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Coordinates: 42°53′0″N 73°12′48″W / 42.88333°N 73.21333°W / 42.88333; -73.21333
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{{short description|Historic church in Vermont, United States}}
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{{Infobox_nrhp | name =First Congregational Church of Bennington
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
| nrhp_type =

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| image = FirstCongregationalChurchofBennington.jpg
{{Infobox NRHP
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| caption = September 2005
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| name = Old First Congregational Church of Bennington
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| location= [[Bennington, Vermont]]
| lat_degrees = 42
| nrhp_type = nrhp
⚫
| image = FirstCongregationalChurchofBennington.jpg
| lat_minutes = 53
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| caption = September 2005
| lat_seconds = 0
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| location = 1 Monument Circle,<br/>[[Bennington, Vermont]]
| lat_direction = N
| coordinates = {{coord|42|53|0|N|73|12|48|W|display=inline,title}}
| long_degrees = 73
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| locmapin = Vermont#USA
| long_minutes = 12
| area ={{convert|1.5|acre|ha}}
| long_seconds = 48
| built = {{start date|1805}}
| long_direction = W
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| architect = [[Lavius Fillmore]]
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| locmapin = Vermont
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| architecture = Georgian, Federal
| area =
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| added = April 24, 1973
| built =1804
| refnum = 73000186<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2007a}}</ref>
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| architect= [[Lavius Fillmore]]
| nrhp_type2 = indcp
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| architecture= Georgian, Other, Federal
| nocat = yes
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| added = [[April 24]], [[1973]]
| designated_nrhp_type2 = October 4, 1984
| governing_body = Private
| partof = [[Old Bennington Historic District]]
| refnum=73000186<ref name="nris">{{cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>
| partof_refnum = 84000030
}}
}}
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The '''First Congregational Church of Bennington''' is located on Monument Avenue in [[Bennington, Vermont]]. It was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1973.<ref name="nris"/> It is also known as the Old First Church. The congregation was organized in 1762.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldfirstchurchbenn.org/history.html|title=Old First Church|access date=2008-04-04}}</ref> The seating capacity is six hundred fifty. The adjacent cemetery was designated by the Vermont legislature as "Vermont's Sacred Acre".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060806/NEWS/608060404/1003/NEWS02&template=printart|author=Gram, David|title=Vermont's first church has rich history,uncertain future|access date=2008-04-04}}</ref>[[Image:FirstCongregationalChurchofBenningtonRear.jpg|left|thumb|View from cemetery in rear.]]


The '''First Congregational Church of Bennington''', also known as the '''Old First Church''', is a historic church in [[Old Bennington, Vermont]]. The congregation was organized in 1762 and the current meeting house was built in 1805.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldfirstchurchbenn.org/history-and-tours/|title=Old First Church|accessdate=2021-04-02}}</ref> The building, one of the state's best examples of Federal period religious architecture, was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1973.<ref name="nris"/>

==Description and history==
The Old First Church occupies a prominent position facing the green in the center of Old Bennington, at the junction of Monument Avenue and Church Lane near the southern end of the green. It is a two-story rectangular wood-frame structure, with a projecting entry vestibule and multi-stage tower. The gabled roof has a modillioned eave, and the exterior is finished in wooden clapboards with quoined corners. The entry vestibule is also gabled, with two round-arch entrances flanking a larger central entrance, which is topped by a rounded transom and gable. The second level of the vestibule has a large Palladian window with broken pediment above, and there is a half-round window in the pediment above. The tower has pilastered corners, with a smaller Palladian window in the first stage, an open second stage octagonal belfry, and an octagonal cupola at the top.<ref name=NRHP>{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=73000186}}|title=NRHP nomination for First Congregational Church of Bennington|publisher=National Park Service|accessdate=2016-02-07}}</ref>

The church congregation was organized in 1762, and its first meetinghouse was built in 1766. Due to increased participation, this building, with a seating capacity of six hundred fifty, was built in 1805, funded by the sale of pews and local levies. It was designed by builder Lavius Fillmore, who apparently borrowed heavily from Plate 35 of [[Asher Benjamin]]'s ''The Country Builder's Assistant''.<ref name=NRHP/>

===Old Bennington Cemetery===
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The adjacent cemetery Old Bennington Cemetery, also known as Old First Church Cemetery or Old First Congregational Church Cemetery, was designated by the Vermont legislature as "Vermont's Sacred Acre".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060806/NEWS/608060404/1003/NEWS02&template=printart|author=Gram, David|title=Vermont's first church has rich history, uncertain future|accessdate=2008-04-04}}</ref>[[Image:FirstCongregationalChurchofBenningtonRear.jpg|left|thumb|View from cemetery in rear.]] It is the burial site of poet [[Robert Frost]].

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Bennington County, Vermont]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
{{Registered Historic Places}}
{{commons category|First Congregational Church (Bennington, Vermont)}}
*[http://www.oldfirstchurchbenn.org/ Old First Church web site]


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{{NRHP in Bennington County, Vermont}}
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[[Category:Buildings of religious function on the National Register of Historic Places in Vermont]]
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[[Category:1804 architecture]]
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[[Category:Bennington County, Vermont]]


{{DEFAULTSORT:First Congregational Church Of Bennington}}
{{Vermont-NRHP-stub}}
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[[Category:Churches on the National Register of Historic Places in Vermont]]
[[Category:Churches completed in 1805]]
[[Category:19th-century churches in the United States]]
[[Category:Churches in Bennington County, Vermont]]
[[Category:Congregational churches in Vermont]]
[[Category:1805 establishments in Vermont]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Bennington, Vermont]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Bennington County, Vermont]]
[[Category:Individually listed contributing properties to historic districts on the National Register in Vermont]]
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[[Category:Federal architecture in Vermont]]
[[Category:Georgian architecture in Vermont]]

Latest revision as of 02:10, 17 June 2024

Old First Congregational Church of Bennington
September 2005
First Congregational Church of Bennington is located in Vermont
First Congregational Church of Bennington
First Congregational Church of Bennington is located in the United States
First Congregational Church of Bennington
Location1 Monument Circle,
Bennington, Vermont
Coordinates42°53′0″N 73°12′48″W / 42.88333°N 73.21333°W / 42.88333; -73.21333
Area1.5 acres (0.61 ha)
Built1805 (1805)
ArchitectLavius Fillmore
Architectural styleGeorgian, Federal
Part ofOld Bennington Historic District (ID84000030)
NRHP reference No.73000186[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPApril 24, 1973
Designated CPOctober 4, 1984

The First Congregational Church of Bennington, also known as the Old First Church, is a historic church in Old Bennington, Vermont. The congregation was organized in 1762 and the current meeting house was built in 1805.[2] The building, one of the state's best examples of Federal period religious architecture, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.[1]

Description and history

[edit]

The Old First Church occupies a prominent position facing the green in the center of Old Bennington, at the junction of Monument Avenue and Church Lane near the southern end of the green. It is a two-story rectangular wood-frame structure, with a projecting entry vestibule and multi-stage tower. The gabled roof has a modillioned eave, and the exterior is finished in wooden clapboards with quoined corners. The entry vestibule is also gabled, with two round-arch entrances flanking a larger central entrance, which is topped by a rounded transom and gable. The second level of the vestibule has a large Palladian window with broken pediment above, and there is a half-round window in the pediment above. The tower has pilastered corners, with a smaller Palladian window in the first stage, an open second stage octagonal belfry, and an octagonal cupola at the top.[3]

The church congregation was organized in 1762, and its first meetinghouse was built in 1766. Due to increased participation, this building, with a seating capacity of six hundred fifty, was built in 1805, funded by the sale of pews and local levies. It was designed by builder Lavius Fillmore, who apparently borrowed heavily from Plate 35 of Asher Benjamin's The Country Builder's Assistant.[3]

Old Bennington Cemetery

[edit]

The adjacent cemetery Old Bennington Cemetery, also known as Old First Church Cemetery or Old First Congregational Church Cemetery, was designated by the Vermont legislature as "Vermont's Sacred Acre".[4]

View from cemetery in rear.

It is the burial site of poet Robert Frost.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. ^ "Old First Church". Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "NRHP nomination for First Congregational Church of Bennington". National Park Service. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  4. ^ Gram, David. "Vermont's first church has rich history, uncertain future". Retrieved April 4, 2008.
[edit]
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