Mount Hebron Baptist Church began as a small mission of 15 people organized at an outdoor gathering on Veteran Street in 1943. It has since grown to a congregation 400 strong. Led by the charismatic Rev. Willie J. Young, the church offers music programs, youth programs, Bible study, leadership training and more to its primarily African American members.
The Meriden Hills Baptist Church lies between Parker Avenue and Broad Street in East Meriden, near Israel Putnam Elementary School. This independent Baptist church is led by the Reverend Dr. Chris Atkinson and holds services in English and Spanish every Sunday. The building houses both the church and an affiliated pre-K through 12th grade school called MidState Christian Academy. Both the church and school are heavily invovled in community outreach. In addition to missionary work and offering free meals to the community throughout the year, the church helps feed nearly 5,000 people a year through Angel Food, a national program that offers a $60 to $70 package of food for $30. These packages are said to feed a family for a week and a senior for a month.
The First Baptist Church of Meriden was established in 1786, after a faction of the original Wallingford congregation broke away and formed its own church here. The Meriden Baptists built this beautiful old New England church in 1848. Sunday School and two Sunday morning worship services are held here. Child care is available during the services.
This small Christian academy has grown from four students in 2007 to 81 in 2010. Affiliated with the Meriden Baptist Church, MidState takes students ages 3 through 18 of all faiths from Meriden and the surrounding towns. Meriden students are picked up by bus, and other students must be driven to the school. Tuition is $3,000 per year, but discounts are available for church members and families with multiple children enrolled.