The surrounding cemetery is the resting place for Robert Frost and many others, which date back to the late 1700's.
I grew up in Old Bennington Vermont spending my summers with Mrs. Weller while she showed people our beautiful Old First Church. It has huge windows of very old glass that kind of flows and let's the sun in various soft waves. She always showed people the foot warmer in one of the boxed seating boxes where families sat. The center of our sanctuary's ceiling has a huge concave feature depicting the world in the arms of the cross. Up front there is a low pulpit and a high pulpit where the children's choir sometimes got to sing from. In the upstairs are the seats where the young men sat on one side and the young women sat on the other and our magnificent pipe organ in the middle. Outside is the cemetery which has graves of the solders who if memory serves me were paid foreigners who fought for our freedom in the Revolutionary War. Also Robert Frost the poet is buried too.
If you park your car near the church you can walk up Monument Avenue to the Bennington Battle Monument. There is an elevator to ride up. From the look out in the monument you can see the steeple of the church and the Green Mountains. After you walk back towards the church about half way take a side road to the left before the Old Bennington Library and the the next right. When you get to the main road you can either go right and return the church or go left and go to the Bennington Museum. The museum has many permeant and changing exhibits. There are wonderful toys from long ago and pictures. Going through I always feel like Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys are just around the corner. A great way to help children really feel our history! After that walk back up through the cemetery. Near the road is my favorite stone in the shape of a lamb. On the other side diagonally across the cemetery heading back to your car is Robert Frost Grave. And when you walk to the front of the church by way of the path in the center of the cemetery (just before the gate to the street and marble side walk) on your left will be those soldiers grave I mentioned before. It's a good health day walk through a very important part of our great history. The Battle of Bennington was a turning point to our country's freedom!
One of the oldest churches in America. The church is still in use today and is still pretty much as it was 200 years ago. It's best to go when its open, as there are tour guides there. It's free of charge to get in and walk around.
This was a delightful experience. From visiting a variety of historic graves (including Robert Frost and family) to viewing the beautiful interior of the church it was well worth the stop. Be sure to visit the boys side of the balcony to read what pen knives left over the centuries. Be a great place to share in worship on a Sunday morning if you happen to be in the area.
Wow what an experience to visit a church building that was put into use in 1807. Beautiful.
The Old First Church is a US Church based in Bennington, New York. The Old First Church is located at 1 Monument Cir, Bennington, VT 05201, USA.
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