The new sidewalk, which is already in use and will be dedicated on Oct. 19, gives easy access from South Main Street to the ‘outstanding’ church library, town library, and to Blue Back Square.

A new sidewalk is located along the south side of First Church. Photo credit: Amy Melvin

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Library patrons, church members, and visitors are enjoying a brand new sidewalk providing access at the south side of First Church West Hartford on South Main Street. The church, located on Unity Green in West Hartford Center, recently completed a restoration of the sidewalk that once ran alongside the building, allowing pedestrians better access to the John P. Webster Library, the church’s spiritual resource center, as well as the rest of the building.

“This is a nine-year dream come true,” said Jennifer deSimas, director of the John P. Webster Library since 2016. “Since I arrived, I’ve said – maybe every year, every month, even every week – that we need to open up the south side of the building so people can more easily find the church library. The church campus is large, and finding the library can be a challenge. We have a unique, well-curated collection for all ages, covering spirituality, faith and justice, American religious history, Bible scholarship, prayer, and more. And it’s open to everyone! We even have a children’s area where First Church Academy students and other kids can come to read and play. I like to say we’re the best-kept secret in West Hartford!”

A new sidewalk is located along the south side of First Church. Photo credit: Amy Melvin

Library visitors will now enter via a new door on the south side of the building by ringing a doorbell. Handicapped access remains available through the church’s Rotunda entrance by the rear parking lot.

DeSimas’ idea of creating a new sidewalk sparked memories among church members who recalled an earlier walkway that once led up to the church, before the construction of Blue Back Square. “This used to be a sort of community bird sanctuary before the public library expanded,” recalled one long-time church member. “I scampered up those steps many times when I was a boy.”

Interior of the John P. Webster Library. Photo credit: Amy Melvin

First Church has stood at the heart of West Hartford for over 300 years. Founded in 1713, the congregation’s first building was located just across South Main Street, on the northwest side of Farmington Avenue. Over the centuries, the church constructed three additional buildings: two classic New England meeting houses and a Gothic-style stone church. In 1942, the congregation built its current meeting house, which continues to serve as a place of worship, community, and connection.

The church’s JPW Library was established in 1978 through a generous bequest from Florence S.M. Crofut – a local historian, philanthropist, and devoted member of First Church. In her will, Crofut left one-third of her estate to the church for the creation of “an outstanding New England church library to be known as the John P. Webster Library,” named in honor of the church’s then-senior pastor. Her gift was carefully invested, growing over the years into a lasting legacy for both the church and the Greater Hartford community.

Interior of the John P. Webster Library. Photo credit: Amy Melvin

Today, the JPW Library – distinct from the Noah Webster Library right next door – is a dynamic hub of learning and connection. It hosts author talks, scholarly presentations, book discussion groups, and the popular “Faithful Fitness” program, which includes Chi Gong & Tai Chi, meditation, and FitMix with Kathi, a one-hour workout led by a certified fitness instructor.

Interior of the John P. Webster Library. Photo credit: Amy Melvin

The library also houses WeHa Grows, West Hartford’s first seed library, located in the reading room, along with a collection of multiple-copy book sets available for use by external book groups.

The congregation will hold a dedication for the new sidewalk at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 19. The JPW Library is located at 12 South Main Street. They are open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, and 9 a.m.-noon on Sundays. Staff can be reached at 860-232-3893.

Interior of the John P. Webster Library. Photo credit: Amy Melvin

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