The organization of Hartford’s Second Congregational Church occurred in 1670, after years of doctrinal disputes in the Hartford Church following the death of Thomas Hooker in 1647. After the division, the new congregation built its first meeting house in 1673, later replaced by its second in 1754. The current South Congregational Church on Main Street has a similar Federal style design to that of Center Church, also displaying the influence of James Gibbs, but here the spire is less elaborate, reflecting the popularity of the simpler Greek Revival style at the time it was built. The church is also unusual in having just a single row of windows on its side elevations. An article in the Hartford Courant noted the congregation’s 335th anniversary in 2005. Update 3/8/2012: Added new picture above. The old is here:
