Welcome!

Hello, fellow Tufts Museum Studies students! The purpose of this blog is to introduce you, visitors, and members to Faith Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Hartford, Connecticut. This church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a stop on Connecticut's Freedom Trail Tour. It is also the third oldest African -American Congregational Church in the United States. One of the first pastors of this church and central to its history ,was Rev. J.W.C. Pennington, a former slave who is remembered as an eloquent orator, preacher ,and freedom fighter. Faith Church is celebrating it's 190th year in 2009. The church was built around 1872, and was originally the Windsor Avenue Congregational Church. As the newly nominated Historian of this historic church, I am charged with documenting, collecting ,and preserving the church's history. Many material objects, portraits, letters, photographs, ledgers, newspaper clippings, etc. are currently in boxes, storage files, and bags. These items are not centrally located and many are inaccessible for public viewing. There are several approaches that I have considered in the maintainance and presentation of these items. The first is to create a small museum in a central location within the church. My idea is to rotate ,from storage , a display monthly or every two months or so. Secondly, my thought is to create a photo journal publication or dvd of items, with text and resources for additional information. The journal will be given out to members and anyone else who requests one. My third idea is to create a museum- type website that would include the major items that I think would be of interest to visitors to the site. This third idea would allow me to keep items in storage, archived and in a central location. My question is: which of the three above ideas would you choose? Any and all comments or suggestions are greatly appreciated. I hope you have enjoyed this brief history of Faith Church. For additional historical information regarding this church, please click on the links, provided on this blog.