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The First Congregational Church of Meriden had its beginnings in the
early 1720’s when the "north farmers" received permission from the
Wallingford Society to hold services in homes in the winter months, because it
was so difficult to travel to Wallingford. In 1725 the legislature was
petitioned for permission to form an Ecclesiastical Society and it was so
granted. In 1727 the Ecclesiastical Society built the first meetinghouse located
on the corner of Ann St. and Dryden Drive.
They also established a burying ground about the same time. They hired a
minister, the Reverend Theophilus Hall, to conduct services. On October 8, 1729,
they came to an agreement with the Reverend Hall to "settle" in
Meriden. The role of the Ecclesiastical Society was to manage the property,
raise money, and hire and pay the minister, an arrangement that prevailed until
1893.
On October 22, 1729, 51 adults were "gathered"
for the purpose of organizing the church. "The church was the company of
Christ’s followers banded together to promote their own spiritual welfare, to
leaven the community with the gospel teachings of their devine Master."
The Rev. Theophilus Hall was ordained on October 29, 1729
and served as pastor for 38 years. Twenty five senior pastors have served the
church over the years. The First Congregational Church has worshipped in five
meetinghouses since 1729 and its present church building, a beautiful granite
structure was dedicated on April 2, 1879.
Over the years, our downtown church has grown and changed
with the city and has always reached out to the community and the world. Today,
members of the church are involved in staffing a local soup kitchen, working in
a clothing ministry and food pantry run by the church, and in a "Covenant
to Care" relationship with the Women & Children's Center and the DCF
(Dept. of Children and Families).
Other ministries of the church include weekly Boy Scout
meetings, our Church Nursery School and our summer facility Camp Claire.
Numerous community groups also meet weekly in our facility. Additionally, the
Taiwanese Christian Church, Casa de Gozo Church and the Overcomers Tabernacle
Church hold worship services here
every week.
List of
Pastors |
