New York millionaire Gordon Burnham commissioned this monument in honor of his father-in-law, Bishop Thomas Church Brownell, founder of Trinity College. Originally a statue of Brownell, in clerical robe and holding a book, was to be erected at Cedar Hill. That statue ended up being installed at Trinity College and Burnham selected a new design for the cemetery.
Statue of Faith
In 1874, the Hartford Courant noted a “massive granite pedestal surmounted by a statue of Faith” was being erected on the Brownell lot. Faith, one of the seven virtues, is often depicted with a cross or Bible. The monument is attributed to Batterson’s Monumental Works (later New England Granite Works).
To learn more about Bishop Brownell, click here.
Monument Fund
The Foundation raises funds to preserve Cedar Hill Cemetery’s historic memorials. To learn more about our preservation activities visit our Monument Fund page.