Colonial First Church and Its Noted Rooster
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| Format: | Electronic Book |
| Language: | Undetermined language |
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s.a.
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| Further subjects: | B
Congregational Churches
B United States ; MA ; Springfield B Postcards B Church architecture ; United States B Fine Arts B Church buildings ; United States |
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| Item Description: | Why 'twas a rooster-"Pat, why didn't they put a hin up there, instead of a rooster?" "An sure," replied Pat, "don't you see it would be inconvanient to go for the eggs." An Old English custom handed down years ago, accounts for the rooster on the church spire, not only the "way of the wind to show," but to remind the church of Peter's warning, and constitute a call to repentance. This "seer of the First Church" has dominated the sky line of Court Square since 1750. His "king feathers" are all intact. His crop is never empty for it is filled with records of the church. Many lines have been written on "His Highness." The following by Mr. Henry Denver had been greatly admired: The First Church Rooster Of all the roosters in the town Which eminence desire, Not one shall reach such pinnacle As he upon our spire. He bears his honors modestly, Nor flaps his wings to crow, Because he feels so much above The Barnyard fowls below. The first gray of the morning's dawn He is the first to greet; The first ray shining on his breast Is seen far down the street. He's kept his perch through burning suns, Through night storms beating past; Has seen the fair haired boy at play, Grey gathered in at last. He saw him till the fertile fields Like him with gun and hoe, Who now, in bronze, shows how men toiled In buried long ago. He's heard withing his pedestal The marriage bell ring sweet; Has sadly listened to its tongue, Slow tolling 'neath his feet. The "Cricket" chirps his praise tonight, And every boy and lass Has pinned above a kindly heart His counterfeit in brass. May ages pass, O royal bird, And those who walk below, Respect thy modest silence then, And loudly for thee crow! The history of Springfield centers around the First Church, this society being formed in 1637, one year after the town's settlement. The present building was erected in 1819, when Court Square was laid out as a public park, and is the successor of three other buildings, the first being erected in 1645 |
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