I’d Never Heard of Abington Either
Abington Meeting House/Congregational Church, Pomfret
February 2008
I am yet again confronted by the question of whether or not something is CTMQ-worthy. I think we all now know that that mythical dividing line keeps getting pushed back further and further. EdHill and I were just driving around the bucolic eastern Connecticut countryside on our way to Frog Rock, minding our own business.
Then, out of nowhere, came the unexpected pleasure of gazing upon what is, depending on your source, “The oldest Connecticut church in continuous use,” “the oldest ‘still standing’ CT meeting house,” “the oldest ecclesiastical building in the State of Connecticut,” or all of the above. Whatever it is, it sure is New Englandy and it’s important enough for me to take notice.
Yes, the Abington Congregational Church is the oldest ecclesiastical building in the State of Connecticut which isn’t really CTMQ-level info, but here it is anyway. The State has installed an official historical marker across the street from the church. It was built in 1751, and it is one of the few surviving examples of the peg and beam construction typical of 18th century New England. In 1977 it was included on the National Register of Historic Places. Notably, it is across Route 97 from a 1750’s cemetery that houses 80+ Revolutionary soldiers.
That’s pretty much that.
I replaced my 2008 photos with two from the church’s website.
Abington Church website
CTMQ’s Churches, Temples, & Random Religious Things
Alvan R. Hill says
June 12, 2022 at 9:53 amMy name is Alvan R. Hill. In 1979 a architectural survey was conducted where I was asked to present my findings at an event held in Dublin, New Hampshire on June 26 and 27 titled New England Meeting House and Church: 1630-1850. Later a book was published by Boston University with same name as title. The book can be purchased on Amazon books, I believe.
I was asked to conduct repairs to the south facing sill where in the 1980’s my crew and I installed a concrete foundation and replaced the rotting sill and other repairs.