Our History
The Present Church and Sanctuary
The present Church was dedicated on Wednesday, July 18, 1888. It is built on a site donated by Henry King McHarg in memory of his father, John McHarg, a great - grandson of Reverend Jonathan Ingersoll, the second pastor.
Architecture - J. Cleveland Cady, of New York City, a summer resident of Ridgefield, designed the church after a small village church he had seen in Italy. Mr. Cady was strongly influenced by his teacher, Henry Hobson Richardson, who designed Trinity Church, Copley Square, Boston. This church is an example of Romanesque Revival style with heavy rounded arches, picturesque tower and Victorian embellishment.
Construction - The stones are native Ridgefield granite set in rock - face ashlar pattern which conveys the idea of stability appropriate to an organization dating back from 1712. The stones vary in size with smaller ones toward the top, thus arranged for manageability as they were placed higher in the wall. This produces a rugged and ever - changing interplay of light and shadow as the sun moves across the sky. Aaron Wallace of Farmingville, an outstanding stone mason, executed the work. Contractors were: Richard Wickham, carpenter, and Riker and Poole, masons. The cost of the building, furnishings and ground was $33,000.
Bells and Clock - The steeple bell was manufactured by Meneely Bell Co., West Troy, NY and is dated 1888. The three clock faces were a part of the original building, but the clock works (made by Seth Thomas Clock Co., Thomaston, Connecticut) and the four bells cast by Meneely Bell Co. were added in 1901. They were given by Misses Henrietta, Winona, and Irene King in memory of their father, J. Howard King (who was the great grandson of Jonathan Ingersoll). Cast into the largest bell are the words: "Finis Coronat Opus" (The End Crowns the Work).
Organ -The original organ was a reed organ. A pipe organ was installed in 1907 and replaced by a Moller two - manual pipe organ which was dedicated May 31, 1931. An Allen electronic organ was dedicated March 23, 1969. This was given in the memory of Winchester Dorr Smith by his wife and children and was designed by Charles F. Pope, then the church’s director of music. At the same time, the echo organ, harpsichord and tower bell system was dedicated in memory of Edith Kirby Nichols. A new pipe organ, built by the Wicks Organ Co. of Highland, Illinois, was dedicated December 4, 1994. It has three manuals, 42 ranks and 2638 pipes. (The Allen electronic organ was given to the Ridgefield Workshop for the Performing Arts).
Entrance - The original entry at the South side of the Church was an open porch which allowed Church goers to climb from their carriages. (In 1958 this entry was enclosed to provide a vestibule and a more contemporary way of entering the Sanctuary).
Interior - The original chancel contained some very fine fresco painting in plain and terra - cotta shades. The apse was stenciled in gilt and a light color. The woodwork, seats and arches were stained an imitation butternut.
Stained glass doors which roll up out of sight separated the Sanctuary from the Friendship Room (as the back of the Sanctuary was known) which was made an integral part of the Sanctuary in 1972 when new pews were installed. These stained glass panels were removed in 1994 in order to raise the ceiling and were hung in the walkway which connects the Sanctuary and Church House.
The 55 windows still contain the original glass. The five stained glass windows in back of the choir loft are called the "Children’s Windows" because they were put in with funds raised by the children at a fair and through Sunday School contributions and were part of the original construction.
Renovation - In 1971 - 1972 several significant changes were made in the Sanctuary. The Choir Loft was moved forward to its present location and the organ console moved to the center. A new pulpit, lectern and pews were installed. The walls were painted white and new red carpeting installed and the lighting improved. The Chancel Cross was designed by Reverend Clayton Lund and artist George Blackford, and constructed and hung by Calvin Brunen.
Renovation - In July of 1994 major renovations were begun in the Historic Sanctuary. (Worship services were held in Lund Hall until the work was completed in late October).
This project included removing the retractable door which contained the stained glass panels we now see in the walk - way, and it raised the opening in the ceiling by about three feet. New pews were installed in the rear area.
A new oak floor was installed throughout the Sanctuary and Clergy Robing Room, and new red carpeting was put down. The Chancel area was redesigned to include a rearranged Choir Loft with new, movable chairs, movable risers, a platform to accommodate the pulpit and lectern as well as a new Communion table and rail. New lighting and a new sound system were installed.
The organ loft was rebuilt to accommodate the wind chests and pipes for the Wicks organ. The new organ console includes a long tether which enables the organ to be placed in various positions for recitals and concerts.
On Sunday, October 30, 1994 the congregation gathered in Lund Hall for the last time and proceeded to the Sanctuary for worship and the Rededication Service of the Historic Sanctuary. The organ was heard for the first time as the congregation sang "A Mighty Fortress is our God". On Sunday, December 4, 1994 the Wicks Pipe Organ was dedicated at the morning services. That afternoon the Dedicatory Recital was held with William Whitehead, concert organist, performing.
Several major components of the renovation were paid for by private contributions. The cost of the Wicks organ was $400,000. over 100 members and friends contributed most of the amount. The balance was funded by a portion of the monies raised as a result of the Capital Funds Drive of the late 1980’s. The total cost of the sanctuary renovations was approximately $185,000. (Architects for this project were Richard Donohoe & Associates. Caldwell & Walsh was the general contractor.)