Christ Church, Hartford

Christ Church Cathedral, located in downtown Hartford, is a landmark of early American Gothic Revival architecture. Designed by renowned architect Ithiel Town, construction began in 1827 and was largely completed by 1829. The square tower-added later in 1939-was inspired by English country churches and designed by Nathaniel Sheldon Wheaton. Together with New Haven’s Trinity Church, this cathedral ranks among the oldest known examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the United States.

Constructed of brownstone, the cathedral features a symmetrical façade with three entryways framed in tall Gothic arches, a central tower, and pointed-arch windows separated by buttresses along its sides. Finials accent the roofline and tower, contributing to its vertical emphasis and ecclesiastical grandeur.

Christ Church became the cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, which was formally organized in 1785 by Bishop Samuel Seabury. Anglican worship in the state, however, dates back to 1702.

Throughout its history, the cathedral has undergone careful expansions and enhancements by noted architects including Henry Austin, George Keller, Frederick Withers, and Ralph Adams Cram-all in keeping with Town’s original design. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, Christ Church Cathedral remains a prominent architectural and spiritual presence in Hartford.