The Fascinating First Protestant Church in Vermont

The Old First Church • Photo Credit: Carol M. Highsmith

The Old First Church • Gathered in 1762 • First Protestant Church in Vermont

Our Fascination with New England Churches; from the perspective of architectural simplicity that’s on display at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in our tiny village of Wells, Vermont; to the grand New England simplicity seen inside The Old First Church in Bennington to the more majestic simplicity of the Old North Church in Boston, Massachusetts.

Overview & Perspective

These remarkable small-town, white buildings and church structures were largely erected by local builders without the benefit of architects. Their designs and inspiration largely came from traditional designs and pattern books, which may have contributed the essence of plainness so common in early church construction. Revered for their beauty, simplicity and elegance – early churches of New England hold a special place in our hearts as we’re all drawn to these remarkable New England towns and villages to experience this unique sense of place that broadly defines our New England character.

More About The Old First Church

The Old First Church was “gathered” on December 3, 1762, the first Protestant congregation in the New Hampshire Grants. The organizers were “Separatists,” influenced by the Great Awakening, from Connecticut and Western Massachusetts, and were proprietors of the new town of Bennington.

The present church, built in 1805 and dedicated January 1, 1806. As a result, the Vermont Legislature, in 1935, designated the church as “Vermont’s Colonial Shrine”.

Robert Frost’s remains are buried in the cemetery adjacent to the church. Although he was not a member of the church, he read his poem, The Black Cottage, at the rededication in 1937. Robert Frost and the house where he lived in Shaftsbury is located just north of Bennington, see the Robert Frost Stone House Museum.

Lavius Fillmore, cousin of the nation’s thirtieth president, and the church architect, built three more churches including the Congregational Church of Middlebury that’s considered Fillmore’s masterpiece, was completed in 1809. See Pond Mountain Inn’s Fort Ticonderoga / Middlebury Day Trip Itinerary for more things to do in the area.

Most of the abbreviated content taken directly The Old First Church website.

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Vermont Day Trips From Pond Mountain Inn – Fort Ticonderoga and Middlebury

We’re excited to share our newest adventures! You can travel the beautiful sights that surround Pond Mountain Inn with many places to visit in just one day.

This day trip itinerary is for the areas in and around Fort Ticonderoga and the town of Middlebury, each with exciting and informational places to visit in Vermont.

Fort Ticonderoga weapons demonstrations and reenactments are fascinating, but don’t miss the King’s Garden, Fort Tours, Mount Defiance (provides one of the most spectacular views in the northeast) and the Battlefield hiking trail. The Town of Ticonderoga is located in New York at the confluence of Lake George and Lake Champlain and only an hour drive from the inn. A destination that’s rich in 18th century history, Ticonderoga’s significant military role in our nation’s early history.

Middlebury, Vermont settled just after the Revolutionary War, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is home to Middlebury College. A can’t miss is Danforth Pewter, established in 1755 in colonial Connecticut and offers magnificent hand-crafted pewter that has been placed in the Smithsonian, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and many other American museums. Just 15 minutes down the road from Middlebury stop by a national historic landmark, The Robert Frost Farm. Robert Frost lived and wrote from his 150 acre farm in the Green Mountains in the summer and fall for 24 years until his death in 1963.

 

Complete list of places to visit for this day trip itinerary Here

We have all seven day trip itineraries to choose from Here