The Old First Church in Bennington
July 29, 2010
On a recent morning I visited The Old First Church in Bennington, the first church in Vermont to reflect the separation of church and state. The church, built in the early 1800s, includes a beautiful cemetery where Robert Frost is buried.
My favorite detail about this lovely, peaceful place are the words engraved on Frost’s gravestone: “I had a lover’s quarrel with the world.”
Erin @ I Heart New England
Posted at 18:18h, 29 JulyBeautiful church, and wonderful epitaph ♥
Baydog
Posted at 20:44h, 29 JulyIs that the church at the top of the hill, across from the old Walloomsac Inn?
Chris Petrak
Posted at 11:25h, 30 JulyI hope you have seen the inside as well – one of the most beautiful interior spaces, and worship spaces, I have seen anywhere – a superb examples of the evolution of the New England meeting house.
craig
Posted at 12:18h, 30 JulyRobert certainly took the less traveled path, and I am glad he did make a difference. Great poet, great poems and great final words…
Stay adventurous,
Craig
Erica Houskeeper
Posted at 22:09h, 30 JulyHi Erin — Seriously, that epitaph is incredible!
Hi Baydog — Yes, it’s across from the old inn on the hill. It’s a gorgeous spot. That old inn looks very intriguing and spooky.
Hi Chris — I have yet to go inside, but I definitely will. I have seen photos and it looks amazing.
Hi Craig — You’re right — he was an amazing man who followed his own unique path in life. Such an inspiration.
Hotel Chicago
Posted at 15:55h, 31 JulyLooks amazing… I am so jealous of all of the historical beauty you guys have on the east coast. Chicago has history, but yours is much older and more picturesque.
Scott
Posted at 14:22h, 02 AugustBeautiful church – and I agree that the interior is worth checking out!
If you go up to the second level and look around, you’ll see initials and names carved into the wood on one side of the church, and the other side is untouched.
Interesting that ‘back in the day’ the congregation was separated by gender – girls on one side, boys on the other. I wonder which side the boys sat on?
Other than Robert Frost’s grave, the cemetery contains the graves of many Hessians and Americans from the Battle of Bennington.
Always worth a visit!
Erica Houskeeper
Posted at 01:19h, 15 AugustHi Hotel Chicago — The history here is pretty incredible. I hope you visit us sometime soon!
Hi Scott — Thanks for your suggestions. I went back to the church and cemetery a few days later, and the old graves and church interior were well worth a second look!
Pingback:Inspiration Along the Robert Frost Trail in Ripton
Posted at 20:04h, 13 July[…] poet lived while teaching at the Middlebury Bread Loaf Campus. Even though Frost is buried at the Old First Church cemetery in Bennington (he lived in Shaftsbury with his wife, Elinor, before she died in 1938), Ripton is officially known […]