First Presbyterian Church of Stamford

Fish Church
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First Presbyterian Church of Stamford

Wallace K. Harrison did not design the church in the shape of a fish.  He focused on the acoustics and shaped the floor plan as an elongated megaphone.  Because he did not want interior pillars to obstruct the view, the walls were slanted inward thus creating the fish shape.   
 
“Finally we arrived at the shape of an elongated megaphone to spread the sound toward the rear. That determined the shape.  The fish symbolism was discovered later.  When you are finally done, people will always rationalize.”     Wallace K. Harrison, 1959 

Credit

Propellerheads Aerial Photography @propheadsphoto

Site overview

Architect Wallace K. Harrison asked, “Have you ever thought what it would be like to live inside a giant
sapphire?” With more than 20,000 pieces of glass in 86 hues, the dalle de verre of the First Presbyterian
Church in Stamford achieves his goal of creating a building with “soaring space and jeweled light”. The
acoustics of the sanctuary drove the form of the building which resembles a fish and led this building to be nicknamed ‘The Fish Church’. Wallace K. Harrison also designed the 260-foot 56 bell carillon. The tower dominates the skyline and the bells can be heard up to 1.5 miles on a quiet day.

First Presbyterian Church of Stamford

Workers installing the poured in place concrete between the precast concrete panels.

Credit

Deluca Construction, Stamford, CT

Site overview

Architect Wallace K. Harrison asked, “Have you ever thought what it would be like to live inside a giant
sapphire?” With more than 20,000 pieces of glass in 86 hues, the dalle de verre of the First Presbyterian
Church in Stamford achieves his goal of creating a building with “soaring space and jeweled light”. The
acoustics of the sanctuary drove the form of the building which resembles a fish and led this building to be nicknamed ‘The Fish Church’. Wallace K. Harrison also designed the 260-foot 56 bell carillon. The tower dominates the skyline and the bells can be heard up to 1.5 miles on a quiet day.

First Presbyterian Church of Stamford

Site overview

Architect Wallace K. Harrison asked, “Have you ever thought what it would be like to live inside a giant
sapphire?” With more than 20,000 pieces of glass in 86 hues, the dalle de verre of the First Presbyterian
Church in Stamford achieves his goal of creating a building with “soaring space and jeweled light”. The
acoustics of the sanctuary drove the form of the building which resembles a fish and led this building to be nicknamed ‘The Fish Church’. Wallace K. Harrison also designed the 260-foot 56 bell carillon. The tower dominates the skyline and the bells can be heard up to 1.5 miles on a quiet day.

First Presbyterian Church of Stamford

Site overview

Architect Wallace K. Harrison asked, “Have you ever thought what it would be like to live inside a giant
sapphire?” With more than 20,000 pieces of glass in 86 hues, the dalle de verre of the First Presbyterian
Church in Stamford achieves his goal of creating a building with “soaring space and jeweled light”. The
acoustics of the sanctuary drove the form of the building which resembles a fish and led this building to be nicknamed ‘The Fish Church’. Wallace K. Harrison also designed the 260-foot 56 bell carillon. The tower dominates the skyline and the bells can be heard up to 1.5 miles on a quiet day.

First Presbyterian Church of Stamford

Site overview

Architect Wallace K. Harrison asked, “Have you ever thought what it would be like to live inside a giant
sapphire?” With more than 20,000 pieces of glass in 86 hues, the dalle de verre of the First Presbyterian
Church in Stamford achieves his goal of creating a building with “soaring space and jeweled light”. The
acoustics of the sanctuary drove the form of the building which resembles a fish and led this building to be nicknamed ‘The Fish Church’. Wallace K. Harrison also designed the 260-foot 56 bell carillon. The tower dominates the skyline and the bells can be heard up to 1.5 miles on a quiet day.

First Presbyterian Church of Stamford

Interior of the Sanctuary with over 20,000 pieces of dalle de verre glass in 86 hues. Architect Wallace K. Harrison’s inspiration for the church was the chapel at Sainte Chapelle in Paris.

Credit

Robert Gregson @gregson_robert

Site overview

Architect Wallace K. Harrison asked, “Have you ever thought what it would be like to live inside a giant
sapphire?” With more than 20,000 pieces of glass in 86 hues, the dalle de verre of the First Presbyterian
Church in Stamford achieves his goal of creating a building with “soaring space and jeweled light”. The
acoustics of the sanctuary drove the form of the building which resembles a fish and led this building to be nicknamed ‘The Fish Church’. Wallace K. Harrison also designed the 260-foot 56 bell carillon. The tower dominates the skyline and the bells can be heard up to 1.5 miles on a quiet day.

First Presbyterian Church of Stamford

Aerial shot of “The Fish Church” showing the fish shaped sanctuary and 260 foot carillon tower

Credit

Scott Sniffen

Site overview

Architect Wallace K. Harrison asked, “Have you ever thought what it would be like to live inside a giant
sapphire?” With more than 20,000 pieces of glass in 86 hues, the dalle de verre of the First Presbyterian
Church in Stamford achieves his goal of creating a building with “soaring space and jeweled light”. The
acoustics of the sanctuary drove the form of the building which resembles a fish and led this building to be nicknamed ‘The Fish Church’. Wallace K. Harrison also designed the 260-foot 56 bell carillon. The tower dominates the skyline and the bells can be heard up to 1.5 miles on a quiet day.

First Presbyterian Church of Stamford

The silhouette of the church showing the fish shape.

Credit

Robert Gregson @gregson_robert

Site overview

Architect Wallace K. Harrison asked, “Have you ever thought what it would be like to live inside a giant
sapphire?” With more than 20,000 pieces of glass in 86 hues, the dalle de verre of the First Presbyterian
Church in Stamford achieves his goal of creating a building with “soaring space and jeweled light”. The
acoustics of the sanctuary drove the form of the building which resembles a fish and led this building to be nicknamed ‘The Fish Church’. Wallace K. Harrison also designed the 260-foot 56 bell carillon. The tower dominates the skyline and the bells can be heard up to 1.5 miles on a quiet day.

First Presbyterian Church of Stamford

The 260 foot 56 bell carillon tower completed in 1968.

Credit

Robert Gregson @gregson_robert

Site overview

Architect Wallace K. Harrison asked, “Have you ever thought what it would be like to live inside a giant
sapphire?” With more than 20,000 pieces of glass in 86 hues, the dalle de verre of the First Presbyterian
Church in Stamford achieves his goal of creating a building with “soaring space and jeweled light”. The
acoustics of the sanctuary drove the form of the building which resembles a fish and led this building to be nicknamed ‘The Fish Church’. Wallace K. Harrison also designed the 260-foot 56 bell carillon. The tower dominates the skyline and the bells can be heard up to 1.5 miles on a quiet day.

First Presbyterian Church of Stamford

Construction of the sanctuary consisting of 152 precast concrete panels.

Credit

Deluca Construction, Stamford, CT

Site overview

Architect Wallace K. Harrison asked, “Have you ever thought what it would be like to live inside a giant
sapphire?” With more than 20,000 pieces of glass in 86 hues, the dalle de verre of the First Presbyterian
Church in Stamford achieves his goal of creating a building with “soaring space and jeweled light”. The
acoustics of the sanctuary drove the form of the building which resembles a fish and led this building to be nicknamed ‘The Fish Church’. Wallace K. Harrison also designed the 260-foot 56 bell carillon. The tower dominates the skyline and the bells can be heard up to 1.5 miles on a quiet day.

First Presbyterian Church of Stamford

Original sanctuary in 1958 with the electronic organ and the pulpit with the original covering shaped like an open bible. 

Credit

Deluca Construction, Stamford, CT

Site overview

Architect Wallace K. Harrison asked, “Have you ever thought what it would be like to live inside a giant
sapphire?” With more than 20,000 pieces of glass in 86 hues, the dalle de verre of the First Presbyterian
Church in Stamford achieves his goal of creating a building with “soaring space and jeweled light”. The
acoustics of the sanctuary drove the form of the building which resembles a fish and led this building to be nicknamed ‘The Fish Church’. Wallace K. Harrison also designed the 260-foot 56 bell carillon. The tower dominates the skyline and the bells can be heard up to 1.5 miles on a quiet day.

First Presbyterian Church of Stamford

Construction of the 260 foot carillon tower. The tower was constructed using poured in place or cast in place concrete. Nearly half of the concrete is below ground which rests on bedrock

Credit

Deluca Construction, Stamford, CT

Site overview

Architect Wallace K. Harrison asked, “Have you ever thought what it would be like to live inside a giant
sapphire?” With more than 20,000 pieces of glass in 86 hues, the dalle de verre of the First Presbyterian
Church in Stamford achieves his goal of creating a building with “soaring space and jeweled light”. The
acoustics of the sanctuary drove the form of the building which resembles a fish and led this building to be nicknamed ‘The Fish Church’. Wallace K. Harrison also designed the 260-foot 56 bell carillon. The tower dominates the skyline and the bells can be heard up to 1.5 miles on a quiet day.

First Presbyterian Church of Stamford

The large bells for the 56 bell carillon were lifted into place using a crane. The largest bell or Bourdon bell is 6,820 lbs.

Credit

Deluca Construction, Stamford, CT

Site overview

Architect Wallace K. Harrison asked, “Have you ever thought what it would be like to live inside a giant
sapphire?” With more than 20,000 pieces of glass in 86 hues, the dalle de verre of the First Presbyterian
Church in Stamford achieves his goal of creating a building with “soaring space and jeweled light”. The
acoustics of the sanctuary drove the form of the building which resembles a fish and led this building to be nicknamed ‘The Fish Church’. Wallace K. Harrison also designed the 260-foot 56 bell carillon. The tower dominates the skyline and the bells can be heard up to 1.5 miles on a quiet day.

First Presbyterian Church of Stamford

Fellowship Hall, part of the parish unit, is used for large events including as a polling place on election days.  The window reminds one of a Mondrian painting.

Credit

Robert Gregson @gregson_robert

Site overview

Architect Wallace K. Harrison asked, “Have you ever thought what it would be like to live inside a giant
sapphire?” With more than 20,000 pieces of glass in 86 hues, the dalle de verre of the First Presbyterian
Church in Stamford achieves his goal of creating a building with “soaring space and jeweled light”. The
acoustics of the sanctuary drove the form of the building which resembles a fish and led this building to be nicknamed ‘The Fish Church’. Wallace K. Harrison also designed the 260-foot 56 bell carillon. The tower dominates the skyline and the bells can be heard up to 1.5 miles on a quiet day.

First Presbyterian Church of Stamford

Looking up at the south wall.

Credit

Robert Gregson @gregson_robert

Site overview

Architect Wallace K. Harrison asked, “Have you ever thought what it would be like to live inside a giant
sapphire?” With more than 20,000 pieces of glass in 86 hues, the dalle de verre of the First Presbyterian
Church in Stamford achieves his goal of creating a building with “soaring space and jeweled light”. The
acoustics of the sanctuary drove the form of the building which resembles a fish and led this building to be nicknamed ‘The Fish Church’. Wallace K. Harrison also designed the 260-foot 56 bell carillon. The tower dominates the skyline and the bells can be heard up to 1.5 miles on a quiet day.

First Presbyterian Church of Stamford

Interior of the Sanctuary viewed from the chancel

Credit

Robert Gregson @gregson_robert 
 

Site overview

Architect Wallace K. Harrison asked, “Have you ever thought what it would be like to live inside a giant
sapphire?” With more than 20,000 pieces of glass in 86 hues, the dalle de verre of the First Presbyterian
Church in Stamford achieves his goal of creating a building with “soaring space and jeweled light”. The
acoustics of the sanctuary drove the form of the building which resembles a fish and led this building to be nicknamed ‘The Fish Church’. Wallace K. Harrison also designed the 260-foot 56 bell carillon. The tower dominates the skyline and the bells can be heard up to 1.5 miles on a quiet day.

Primary classification

Religion (REL)

Designations

National Historic Landmark, January 2021

How to Visit

Open to the public weekdays 9 AM-5 PM (Sept - mid-June), 9 AM - 3 PM (summer hours), and during Sunday services at 10 AM; for off-hour visits or tours call the church office at 203-324-9522 or e-mail
tours@highlandgreenfoundation.org.

Location

1101 Bedford St
Stamford, CT, 06905
More visitation information
Credit:

Propellerheads Aerial Photography @propheadsphoto

Workers installing the poured in place concrete between the precast concrete panels.

Credit:

Deluca Construction, Stamford, CT

Credit:

Robert Gregson @gregson_robert

Aerial shot of “The Fish Church” showing the fish shaped sanctuary and 260 foot carillon tower

Credit:

Scott Sniffen

The silhouette of the church showing the fish shape.

Credit:

Robert Gregson @gregson_robert

The 260 foot 56 bell carillon tower completed in 1968.

Credit:

Robert Gregson @gregson_robert

Construction of the sanctuary consisting of 152 precast concrete panels.

Credit:

Deluca Construction, Stamford, CT

Credit:

Deluca Construction, Stamford, CT

Credit:

Deluca Construction, Stamford, CT

Credit:

Deluca Construction, Stamford, CT

Credit:

Robert Gregson @gregson_robert

Looking up at the south wall.

Credit:

Robert Gregson @gregson_robert

Interior of the Sanctuary viewed from the chancel

Credit:

Robert Gregson @gregson_robert 
 

Designer(s)

Other designers

Felix Samuely, Structural Engineer

Elbert Conover,Church Building Consultant

Gabriel Loire, Dalle de Verre

Deluca Construction, Builder

Bryan Lynch, Landscape Architect (1958)

Willis Mills of Sherwood, Mills and Smith, Architect of Parish Unit (1956)

Related News

Related Sites

Commission

1952

Completion

1958

Significant Alteration(s) with Date(s)

Currently undergoing major multi-year preservation work on sanctuary to address the leakage and structuralissues. Project will include but not limited to the repair/replacement of the poured in place concrete ribs,replacement of the 1986/1987 dalle de verre glass and preservation of the 1958 dalle de verre glass.Project lead/architect - Theo Prudon; Consultants - Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc (WJE), OldStructures Engineering, and Building Conservation Associates, Inc (BCA); Contractor - Kronenberger & Sons;Owners Rep - Robert Cavello, Westview Group2022 - Carillon tower cleaned and restored to its original appearance.2015 - ~ 3 acres of land sold, the majority of the proceeds are in an endowment for the church, a portion ofthe proceeds were used for the deferred maintenance projects in 2016 – 2018. These projects included thereplacement the original oil-fired boilers; the parish unit renovation including ADA compliant ramps anddoors, renovated courtyard, handicap bathrooms near office and lounge; installation of A/C in Sanctuary andFellowship Hall; repaired stepping stones (replaced broken stones) and sidewalk; repaved driveway;Fellowship Hall & Kitchen completely renovated1991 - Replacement of original electric organ with a Visser-Rowland mechanical or tracking organ with 4,026pipes, 4 manuals, 51 stops and 74 ranks1986/1987 - Replacement of the dalle de verre glass on the east and south walls below the roof line

Current Use

Church, After School Program, Music Events and Facilities Use by Local Non-Profits