Springfield in Hampden County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

Old First Church

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 5, 2019

1. Old First Church Marker

Inscription. Old First Church has been located in Court Square since the 17th century. It was the twentieth parish formed in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and was gathered in 1637, the year after Springfield was founded. The first meetinghouse was erected just east of this site in 1645. This meetinghouse is the fourth building on this site, built in 1819 by a Northampton man, Isaac Damon. The rooster weathervane on the steeple was crafted by a London coppersmith, and brought to this country in 1750. The Congregation welcomes you to its worship and work.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1637.

Location. 42° 6.042′ N, 72° 35.342′ W. Marker is in Springfield, Massachusetts, in Hampden County. Marker can be reached from Elm Street just south of Main Street. Marker is mounted at eye-level just to the right of the church entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 50 Elm Street, Springfield MA 01103, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named Old First Church (a few steps from this marker); Hampden County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Miles Morgan (within shouting distance of this marker); The First Meeting House

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Springfield Soldiers and Sailors Monument (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); United Electric Company Building (about 400 feet away); United Electric Co. Building / Old "Turnverein" Building (about 400 feet away); 95 State Street (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Springfield.

Regarding Old First Church. National Register of Historic Places #72000135. Also a contributing property in Springfield Court Square Historic District, NRHP #74000370. Also a Massachusetts Historical Landmark.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Old First Church

Also see . . .
1. First Church of Christ, Congregational (Wikipedia). From 1908 until 1970, the height of the steeple on the Old First Church (125 feet) was used as a legal limit for heights of buildings in Springfield, as per the order of the Massachusetts State Legislature in 1908. Thus, in Springfield, one finds fewer skyscrapers than one does in most comparable eastern United States cities. (Submitted on October 24, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

National Register of Historic Places Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 5, 2019

2. National Register of Historic Places Marker

This property has been
placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior

2. Old First Church. The current building was home to the First Church of Christ until 2007, when the congregation disbanded. During that time, the church hosted notable guests including Daniel Webster, abolitionist John Brown, singer Jenny Lind, and evangelist D.L. Moody. In 1848, the body of former president John Quincy Adams lay in state in the center aisle, as he was being brought back to Quincy from Washington, D.C. (Submitted on October 24, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Old First Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 5, 2019

3. Old First Church

(marker mounted on right side of entrance)

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 5, 2019

4. Old First Church

Credits. This page was last revised on October 24, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 23, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 141 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 24, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.