John Canning & Co. Receives Prestigious 2025 Connecticut Preservation Award for Masterful Restoration of First Church of Christ, Woodbridge
Preservation Connecticut honors our plaster and decorative paint work at The First Church of Christ with the 2025 Connecticut Preservation Award for Craftsmanship
Cheshire, CT — April, 2025 — John Canning & Co. is thrilled that Preservation Connecticut has awarded us with the 2025 Connecticut Preservation Award on our masterful craftsmanship for our work at the historic First Church of Christ located in Woodbridge, Connecticut. This award marks the 7th Connecticut Preservation Award our team has earned, and we are honored that Preservation Connecticut recognizes our commitment to preserving and restoring classical architecture.
The First Church of Christ, initially built in 1738 as a New England meeting house, has undergone several transformations reflecting societal and architectural changes. By 1831, the church was rebuilt in the elegant Greek Revival style, inspired by emerging contemporary designs such as New Haven's Chapel Street Congregational Church. In 1860, further renovations introduced a mid-Victorian style with the church's first decorative paint program.
By 2016, the church faced significant structural challenges brought on by the failing attic beams, cracks in the ceiling, and a detachment of the historic plaster from the lath. Thus, John Canning & Co. developed a multi-phase restoration project beginning in 2019, where the teams utilized techniques such as decorative painting, plaster consolidation, and trompe l'oeil to restore and maintain the church's original integrity. In addition, John Canning & Co. consolidated the ceiling with an adhesive injection system, reinforcing the plaster's integrity and attachment to the historic wood lath. Today, the First Church of Christ is a renewed symbol of beauty and spiritual peace, with its neoclassical interior restored to its original brilliance. It will continue to serve as a focal point for town cohesion with religious services and community activities.
We extend our gratitude to Preservation Connecticut for this honor, and we were delighted to sponsor and celebrate alongside other outstanding practitioners at the award ceremony on May 8th at the New Haven Country Club.
Preservation Connecticut is a nonprofit organization dedicated to working with local preservation groups and individuals as well as statewide organizations to preserve, protect, and promote the buildings, sites, and landscapes that contribute to the heritage and vitality of Connecticut communities. Each year, the Connecticut Preservation Awards recognize individual projects, long-term contributions, and professional achievements that demonstrate the many ways historic places contribute to the life and vitality of Connecticut communities.
John Canning & Co., located in Cheshire, Connecticut, is a conservation company specializing in historic building restoration and preservation across the United States. With almost 50 years of expertise, John Canning & Co. has mastered skills in decorative painting, plaster restoration, gilding, and architectural finishes. Some key landmarks the company has restored include the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, Grand Central Terminal, and the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The company has become renowned for its craftsmanship and commitment to preserving and rejuvenating national treasures for future generations.
