Whimsical Windows - Ansonia Congregational

For this installment of Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors, I am heading less that two miles downhill to the First Congregational Church of Ansonia. This stately house of worship was built in its original configuration in 1865, and expanded in 1915. Unlike the austere Puritan churches we see on small town greens all over Ne w England, this church seems to harken back to the large buildings of Europe, made of stone and full of substance.

The history go this congregation is interesting. Industrialist Anson Phelps gave the land and money to start the meetinghouse in 1848. And, the small city of Ansonia was named in honor of its founder, Anson Phelps. This is a beautiful building and has the strength of not just its stone it is clad in, but also its the fervent and true believers...

Whimsical Windows - Sanctuary Stained Glass

For this week's meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors, I look again to our house of worship, the First Congregational Church of Derby (CT). In an early 20th Century room addition to the original 1842 sanctuary, there are cool stained glass windows that are odd in this style of church as the original Puritans strove to never adorn their plain churches, which may have been the style in the 1700s - but not in 1901. A style with spiritual overtones...

Shadow Shot Sunday - Spring Cleanup

Pastor Jim is also a gardener...

Parishioners mulch...

Curb appeal enhanced as winter road sand is removed

For the weekly meme Shadow Shot Sunday 2, shadows were aplenty in April as the Spring cleanup at our house of worship, the First Congregational Church of Derby (CT). 

The 1842 building is the classic old white church seen all over New England greens, and after an unusually cold Winter, a cleanup of the winter grunge, new plantings and sand removal is in order. Patti's capture offers us  well defined shadows too. 


Spring indeed has sprung...

Whimsical Windows - Upward perspectives

I aim skyward for Toby's meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors, and the subject is a wheelchair height is the ubiquitous congregational in the center of a New England town, this being in urban East Hartford CT on a warmer (than now) day. Under a splash of sun, it appears almost as a skyscraper. I know it isn't, but being seated so low, things appear to climb on and up. Unusal perspectives combined with an active immagination can be a fun thing, at least if you are me :)

Ruby Tuesday - Colorful Church Glass

Ruby Tuesday 2 and stained glass - are a perfect pairing. We attend a Congregational church in nearby Derby. Built in 1821, the sanctuary structure is the usual Puritan stark* - white, wood, angular and no frills nor style. Just like its 17-19th century dour practitioners. However, the offices and meeting room were built after 1900 have many a stained glass window that were donated by worshipers. These portals look magnificent with sunlight light filtering through the artistic and colorful effects. Lots of ruby for RT2...


* - Unlike the US Episcopalian church which derived from the Anglican/Church of England - those churches tend to be more ornate than the white buildings that dot the New England town squares. Not Westminster ornate perhaps, but not undecorated white wood either...

Whimsical Windows - Stained Glass Puritan

Inside the modern day puritan house of worship. Taken by Patti

Inside the stark white church, a hint of color. Also taken by Patti

Toby hosts the most excellent architectural meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors. Today, I am at our Congregational church in the neighboring town of Derby. The church sanctuary was built in 1821, and the Congregation tradition actually goes back to the Puritans from England - that means that those dour practitioners had a severe austerity in their viewpoints...and in their architecture, the stark white buildings with nary a frill in design which precluded stained glass in those days. Yet, the office addition was built later, perhaps around 1900. And this side has lovely stained glass windows, donated by parishioners at the time. Not austere, but beautiful additions to the colonial style. See more building style at WWDD

Shadow Shot Sunday - Steeple Shadows

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 is back, and I am looking at shadows that fall around the steeple and building of our church, the 1st Congregational Church in our neighboring town of Derby. Built in 1821, it fits the mold of the white Congregational church in the center of a New England town. The shadow here were probably taken in Winter and Spring 2005 after a restoration of the building and cupola base of the steeple. Plenty of intricate shadows up there - the view to the front door leaves us with shade covering the sanctuary. A New England tradition still...see shadowy art, spiritual and otherwise at SSS2