First Congregational Church, church in Manitou Springs, Colorado
First Congregational Church is a church building in Colorado Springs built in 1889 from rhyolite stone with a Romanesque design featuring sturdy pillars at its front. Its interior follows a Greek cross layout with a dome above the center, light oak paneling on the lower walls, and colored stained glass windows.
The building was completed in 1889 after its cornerstone was laid in 1888. The first service took place in July 1889, and the church was officially dedicated that October following the installation of a pipe organ from Boston.
The church's name reflects its Congregationalist tradition, rooted in New England religious practices. Its interior layout, based on a Greek cross design, and the stained glass windows create a space that continues to serve the community for worship and gatherings.
The church sits at a corner location in Colorado Springs and is easy to locate. The stone structure remains the oldest church building in the city that has been continuously used by the same congregation.
The pipe organ was shipped from Boston by boat to the Gulf of Mexico, then up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, and finally by railroad and wagon to Colorado Springs. It originally ran on water power and today plays with over 50 ranks using a modern electronic control system.
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