
I realize that it’s been a while since I focused a Thursday Doors post on a single building. I also realize that that building was a church and it was, at least partially, named St. Patrick’s.
I was originally planning to use this church for St. Patrick’s Day in 2016, but then I got sick and couldn’t get the photos. Then I tagged it for St. Patrick’s Day in 2017, and I totally forgot. When I agreed to feed our daughter’s cats last night and this morning, I realized that I had a doorpotunity(1) I shouldn’t pass up. I could snag the photos I need on my way over and write the post while binge-watching Twilight Zone and Star Trek Next Generation episodes on Netflix. Moncton and Preston love to help me.
The church of St. Patrick is one of those curiously aged churches, where the congregation predates the physical building by a good long time. Fortunately, it isn’t one of the many churches whose history spans multiple buildings that were destroyed by fire. This beautiful stone structure has stood for almost 100 years.
St. Patrick’s is in Farmington, CT. We have visited this little neighborhood before, as it is home to St. James Episcopal church and Miss Porter’s School. I’ve featured other Farmington doors, but those two are right around the corner from today’s church.
The history page for the church details the chronology, but it doesn’t make a lot of sense unless you’re familiar with Connecticut geography. Suffice it to say, the sacred needs of Farmington Catholics were cared for priests from churches in neighboring towns, including Hartford, which is about 10 ½ miles away. That’s about 2 ½ hours on horseback, similar to making that commute today during rush hour. I exaggerate, but not by much.
In 1870, Father Patrick Duggett bought an old building on Farmington Avenue to serve as the Farmington’s first Catholic Church. From the churches’ history page:
In the fall of 1918, Bishop John J. Nilan made St. Patrick’s a parish with Father M. Ernest Wilson as first pastor. Bishop Nilan instructed Father Wilson to build a new church on a Main Street site chosen by the prelate himself.
With much help from his parishioners, the pastor soon had a basement church constructed and dedicated on November 27, 1919.
The completed superstructure was dedicated on June 11, 1922.
Today, the church’s parking lot abuts a sports field complex that is part of the expanded presence of Miss Porter’s School. As for Miss Porter’s there is at least one tangible link between the school and this church. The history page of the church’s website pointed me to an article in the New York Times about this area of Farmington. The article contained this interesting bit of history:
“At the small fieldstone St. Patrick’s Church at 112 Main Street, a brass plaque reading “Misses Bouvier” remains on the pew donated by the future Mrs. Kennedy and her sister when they were at Miss Porter’s in the 1940’s.”
This post is part is part of a weekly blogfest sponsored by Norm Frampton. This is where I would normally cast Norm in a significant role in the organization of all things doors. Today, I want to switch gears. You should check out Norm’s doors. You should also click on the Blue Frog to see the other doors. But, I hope you will also consider joining another blogfest, The Cherished Blogfest. I won’t say more, here, but please take a look at the #CBF page.
(1) I tried ‘do-opportunity’, ‘door-opportunity’ and ‘dorportunity’, but this sounded better to me.
You can click on any photo to start a slide show.
Preston had a snack attack, eh? 😉 What a grand old building. I love the stone work. And the part about Jackie BKO was a nice surprise. Always great doors from you Dan. I’ll likely not get a post up today. Have a great one. I’m so busy and so lagging for the CBF. Sorry.😞
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Thanks. Preston and Moncton both were frantically working to get a bag of Bugles open. I had just fed them!
I’ve always liked the stone work in this church, and how it blends in with the land. I hope to see you for CBF, but I know about busy, so…
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Thanks Dan. I’ll do my best.
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Beautiful church, handsome stonework and doors, and nice history. Good thing for us you needed to do your chores as pet sitter. :-)
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Thanks Judy. I like visiting with the boys. I kept this church out of the mix of doors in this area, because I always wanted to feature it. I’m glad I had a nice day to get some photos.
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It is a lovely church. The handicapped doors are the most impressive [to me]. With a grand history too.
Preston – he wants his own blog!!
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Ha ha – all these guys want their own blog. And every post would be titled: “It’s time to feed me!”
I liked the handicapped entrance, too. I like how it seems, every renovation was made in a way to keep the appearance as if it had all been built 100 years ago.
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As it should be.
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I love, love, love old stone buildings! Hi Preston!
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I’m glad you like it, Pam. I’ve always liked this building. Preston went back to bed after breakfast.
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I love the stonework and sloping roof on this church. And the Kennedy’s were involved. That is so interesting. Beautiful church, Dan. Preston is a new cat? Did he get a reward if you could comb through his fur?
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Thanks Lois. Preston has been around Faith’s for a good long time, but he usually isn’t in the public eye. I should have included a photo of his tuxedo brother, but his antics might get their own post.
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Preston is such a cutie that I forgot about the doors.
I love all the stonework. With the relatively simple doors it was a charming effect. Ant that window in the side is spectacular. Such a lovely structure. Have a thriving Thursday, Dan!
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Thanks Teagan. Sometimes I work to get the gallery lined up the way I want. This time, Preston ended up the by chance and I decided not to mess. Have a wonderful Friday-eve.
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Beautiful stonework, doors, and windows! I love the ivy covering the walls, the roof, the handicap doors are my favorite.
You had a good helper there, and some yummy brain food. Chex Mix is so addicting!
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It is. I didn’t eat all of that, but I like having snacks available. Apparently those two clown like crunchy stuff. They fought me for the Bugles.
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:)
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I meant to add that I’ve always been impressed with the way this church fits in its lot. The low, curving segments makes it seem to grow out of the ground.
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A lovely building well worth setting aside for its own post. Nicely done Dan. Doorpotunity, eh? Along with Doorfie and Doorscursion – It seems like we door nuts really are developing a whole list of our own words.
One could even call it our own doorcabulary :-D
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Ha! I like that – doorcabulary. I’ve always liked this church. They have done a great job adding on and maintaining it without losing its charm.
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Beautiful church!
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Thanks Wendy.
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What a lovely quaint church, with some fun history. Glad the cat feeding came with a picture too:) Funny how we pass things and think, I should photograph that and put it off. I did that with a few things and now they are gone… Now you are going to have to fun a new Saint Patrick’s Day 2018 post.
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I’m glad you liked this. I figured I better just go ahead and gesture it. I had a really good day for photos, although some areas were in deep shade.
I have had things disappear before I got back to them…grumble grumble
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Don’t you hate that: going back and their gone?
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🙁
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What beautiful doors – and I love the photo of Preston! :)
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I’m glad you like the church. I usually don’t get good photos of Preston. He’s such a fluff.
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I love this church with it’s pretty stone work. I’m not sure which photo it is – I counted #6 from the beginning of the slideshow – but I love this photo. It took a while before I realized that the massive chimneys weren’t part of the small building at the back, but the larger building in front. The perspective on this photo is so interesting.
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The building is deceiving. The roof is so Los to the ground in front. I really like the stone work
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Was Preston trying to steal your Chex mix?
Beautiful church, Dan. Love the stonework and roof, and I really like the curviness of the doors. It looks like a church that should be in a small town in England, sitting amid the cottages, but I guess New England is good too.
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Preston and Moncton raided the bag of Bugles. They tried tearing into it and when I did open it, they begged and stole some.
The church is really pretty. I’m glad you like it. This part of Farmington has a very small town feel to it. Albeit, very expensive small town. The slate roof is very well done.
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Love all these stone views! Does my European heart do good:) Combining the stone buildings of the North and the life style and weather in California, that would be (almost) heaven!
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Thanks. Im glad you enjoyed this. The stone walls and slate roof are very pretty.
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Was thinking after your comment, brick houses would really be a preventative measure against these yearly fires!
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Beautiful building. Definitely my kinda thing. Love the photo (well two) with all the curves and angles, all that ivy and stone. That’s dreamy stuff! Nice big place, definitely glad you went around it.
Also, Preston is cute! I would share my snacks with him! :)
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I do like the curves and all the ins and outs. It looks smaller that it is. I think that’s because it’s so close to the landscape. Preston got his share of snacks.
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You have to wonder where Preston got all those snacks.Great Job, Dan
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He’s a bit of a scrounger.
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;-)
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Gorgeous church, Dan. Thanks for the suggestions, too.
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Thanks Audrey!
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Beautiful old stone church with impressive doors. And Preston… a very dignified name for such a cutie. I’m glad you mentioned the Cherished Blogfest. I hadn’t seen anything about it for awhile and almost forgot. I guess I need to start writing…
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Thanks! I hope to see you in the Cherished Blogfest. The list is open now through midnight Sunday.
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Ok, Faith’s Preston won my heart and attention. I love this photo, Dan!
I particularly liked the variegated colors of the field stones used in this mighty church. I really liked the quality of the entrance for those who may have challenges or handicaps. It was really pretty and the wood stain is lustrous.
I also liked the connection to Miss Porter’s school and the sisters Bouvier, with one beautiful Mrs. Jackie Kennedy. Lovely St Patrick’s statue, too.
You could replay or reblog this over St. Patrick’s Day! 🍀
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I’m glad you enjoyed this, Robin. Thanks for the idea for St. Pats doors 🙂
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Wow, I hit send too soon. I think it is nice that the church has a lasting memory of Jackie. This type of stone building, with the rounded stones, always appeals to me. It’s s little more random. Thanks again for dropping by.
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a great word: doorpotunity and a lovely church picture with history of it! :)
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Thank you. I like to find a little of the story behind the doors.
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that stone does blend in with the land (I skimmed a few comments) and enjoyed this (as usual) with the history – need some Bugles now….
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Ha ha – my wife asked if I wanted anything special from the (grocery) store. I said “Bugles!”
I think they way it blends in is one of the things I like about this church.
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yes – and truly artsy
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I thoroughly enjoyed these photos, Dan. They made me feel pretty darn good! Thanks for a great doors post.
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Thanks Jennie. It’s such a pretty church, I get that same feeling driving by.
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So nice!
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Charming church and post Dan❣️ I’m alwas drawn to old stone, slate and good wood!
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Thanks Val. The stone and slate are so well done/maintained. It really has s wonderful look to it.
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Wow, what a great building! It’s just barely this side of Storybook Style. One little catslide roof would tip the balance. LOVE IT!
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It’s so charming from the front street. It’s low and it blends in so well. I love the curves. Thanks for stopping by.
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Marvellous architecture and I love ‘doorpotunity’.
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Thanks. I have always liked the look of this church. It’s deceiving, it looks smaller than it really is.
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