French Congregational Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1887 at 33-37 Bliss Street in Springfield, this brick church measures 68 feet by 42 feet and is trimmed with East Longmeadow brownstone. Its front combines a narrow gabled center with two towers: a smaller east tower with an octagonal spire roof and a taller west tower with a pyramidal roof and decorative brickwork. Pointed-arch windows and a multi-colored slate roof mark the side elevations. It was constructed by local builder Sam Provost and sponsored largely by industrialist Daniel B. Wesson for French Canadian Protestant workers at the Smith and Wesson Company. The congregation declined, and the building was sold in 1909 to the Congregational Union, which sublet it to other ethnic congregations. Since 1919 it has housed the First Spiritualist Church, whose memorial windows carry a sunflower motif. It is significant as an example of Victorian Gothic design and for its ties to the city's immigrant working class.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a fine local example of high Victorian Gothic design, with brick and East Longmeadow brownstone trim and two distinctive towers. It is also significant for its associations with Springfield's ethnic working class, since it was sponsored by industrialist Daniel B. Wesson for French Canadian employees of Smith and Wesson.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 83004288, listed February 24, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 33-37 Bliss St., Springfield |
|---|---|
| County | Hampden County |
| Listed | February 24, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004288 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Sam Provost, builder (designed by a local architect, unnamed) |
| Architectural style | Victorian Gothic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In continuous use by the First Spiritualist Church since 1919; no major alterations noted. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.09945, -72.58725 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 83004288.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5501721
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.