Church of the Good Shepherd and Parish House 🇺🇸

Located at 155 Wyllys Street in Hartford's historic Coltsville area south of downtown, the Church of the Good Shepherd and Parish House offers you a compelling glimpse into local history and Gothic Revival design. Commissioned in 1866 by Elizabeth Jarvis Colt as a memorial to her husband Samuel Colt and three of their children, the church was completed in 1867 by architect Edward Tuckerman Potter. When you visit, you will appreciate its striking masonry facade built from Portland brownstone and Ohio sandstone, topped with a steeply pitched polychrome slate roof and a square tower crowned by an octagonal spire.

Be sure to examine the southwest entrance arch, where you can spot carvings representing workers' tools from Samuel Colt's factory. Inside, heavy chestnut timbers frame the roof above floors and columns crafted from a variety of stones. In 1895, Potter returned to add the matching parish house to honor Caldwell Hart Colt.

Upstairs in the parish house, you can explore a memorial alcove displaying two brass cannons, a ship's bell, and a large painting of Commodore Colt aboard the Dauntless. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

What to see at Church of the Good Shepherd and Parish House

• Gothic Revival architecture built with Portland brownstone and Ohio sandstone
• Southwest entrance arch featuring carvings of Samuel Colt factory tools
• Interior with heavy chestnut roof framing and varied stone columns
• Parish house alcove memorial displaying two brass cannons and a ship's bell
• Polychrome slate roof, square tower, and octagonal spire

Visiting tips

Look closely at the southwest entrance arch to spot detailed carvings depicting tools used in Samuel Colt's factory.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Church of the Good Shepherd and Parish House is easy to reach on Hartford’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art and Trinity College Chapel, Hartford. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Hartford travel guide.