Faith Tabernacle has been in existence for more than 40 years and is led by Pastor Kent Elliott since 1992. The Pentecostal Church has more than 250 congregants. Throughout the year it is involved in many overseas ministries, and every few years the men's group travels to Guatemala to assist in building churches and schools.
The baroque architectural style of this church, built in the 1930's, is modeled on one in Mellili, Sicily, the village where many Middletown families trace their origins. Religious education classes are held Sundays 8:45am-9:55am for grades one, four, five and six; Mondays, 4:30pm-5:30pm for grades two and three; and Mondays 6pm-7pm for grades seven and eight.
The Stanwich Congregational Church is an evangelical Congregational church established in 1732. The New England style church is used for weddings, funerals and weekly worship.
Music is an integral part of parish life. Volunteers comprise the adult and junior choirs, and there are additional opportunities for musicians. Nursery and Sunday school programs are active, as are youth groups for teens and college students. Adults can choose from an array of small groups for fellowship, Bible study, and support.
Church of the Living God, located at 199 Deming St., has been serving the greater Manchester area since 1983. Founding Pastor Dave Mullen has been Senior Pastor along with senior associates Rev. Eric Peoples and Rev. David Bonadies. Members of this church support each other and also minister in various other capacities. It is a members of the Manchester Area Conference of Churches.
The foundation of St. Peter's Episcopal Church was layed in 1802, at the beginning of Thomas Jefferson's presidency, and the building still stands along the Monroe Green today. In fact, St. Peter's is the oldest church in Monroe. "St. Peter's mission is to welcome with God's love all people on their journey of faith," says Rev. Kurt Huber, rector of the church.
Every September, the sweet aroma of homemade baked goods like apple pies, tarts and cookies fills the air as bakers and artisans sell their wares on the Green during St. Peter's annual Apple Festival.
Black Rock Nursery School, established in 1969, is located on the campus of Black Rock Congregational Church at 3685 Black Rock Turnpike.
The nursery school, open to children ages 2 through 5, states that its goal is to provide a safe and happy environment for pre-schoolers, while, at the same time, through work and play, sharing Christian values with them.
Black Rock Nursery School, which has 125 childen, provides a spiritual component in its curriculum and the school's Web site says that children will learn that God made the world and all that is in it, that Jesus is the Savior and that Jesus loves them. Special times are set aside for Bible stories, prayers, table graces and songs of praise.
Free play includes blocks, art, dress-up, kitchen corner, story corner, play-dough, puzzles, games, easel painting, cooking, simple science experiments and beginning writing activities.
Black Rock Nursery School offers classes for 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds and a pre-kindergarten program for 5-year-olds. Classes are from 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., and an extended lunch bunch program, from 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m., is offered for 4- and 5-year-olds on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
The nursery school is open from Monday through Friday. Two-year-olds attend two days a week, 3-year-olds attend two or three days a week, 4-year-olds attend three or four days a week, and 5-year-olds attend five days a week.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 4 to 1 for 2-year-olds; 6 to 1 for 3-year-olds; and 8 to 1 for 4- and 5-year-olds.
Walnut Hill Community Church serves Bethel and the surrounding towns including Newtown and Danbury. The church is non-denominational and strongly evangelical. Its congregation includes Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Messianic Jews, Pentecostals, and others. Although autonomous, the Church has relationships with many local and international churches.
Calvary Church, located on Church Street in Stonington Borough, was originally founded in 1847. The church building that is used today was built two years later in 1849 and renovated in 1997. This Episcopal church is lead by Reverend Dr. W. Alfred Tisdale, Jr. The church also runs Calvary Music School and Calvary Nursery School.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church is located in Riverside.
Mass is read on Sunday mornings at 8 am and 10am. The 8am Holy Eucharist service alternates between Rite I (traditional language) and Rite II (modern language). The 10 am service is always Rite II with music.
Families are invited to gather in the "storytelling tent" at 9:30am before the 10am service. When adults leave for mass, children attend Sunday School or SPARKS.
The adult choir sings every Sunday at 10 a.m. during the months of September to May with some extra services during the Lent and Christmas seasons. Rehearsals are on Sundays, before and after mass. All interested singers (amateur and professional) are encouraged to join.
St. Paul's Day School, sponsored by the church, is a popular pre-school for four and five-year-olds.
The church also coordinates a number of fundraisers to support various local charities, including Neighbor to Neighbor, Greenwich Adult Day Care and Kids in Crisis.
The Avon Congregational Church is a historical landmark that was established in 1819. Its meeting house, built by architect David Hoadley, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Worship services are led by the Rev. Martha Chenault. According to the church website congregation members not only volunteer in Avon and surrounding areas, but also in other countries, whether caring for children in Hartford who need a safe place to play, caring for orphans in Guatemala or helping the homeless and others in need. The church has a nursery school and has affiliated programs on radio stations such as WTIC AM, WTIC FM, WRCH and WZMX, as well as television stations, including WFSB, WTNH and WVIT.
Norfield Congregational Church, located at 64 Norfield Road next to Weston's town hall complex, was founded in 1757. The church offers infant and toddler care, sermons for youths, hearing assistance and a coffee hour after the service each Sunday. Each summer, the church has an annual fair. There is also a memorial garden on the church's grounds.
Calvary Alliance Church is a member of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Its congregation worships on Sundays in a brick building on Orange Street. Please call for more information.
Old St. Andrews Episcopal Church is housed in a 200 year old building. The parish offers Holy Eucharist on Sundays with music at its 10am service. Old St. Andrews also offers adult education seminars, outreach initiatives in Simsbury and around the world and child care programs. The Rev. Earl G. Purnell has served at Old St. Andrews since 1997.
Stepney Baptist Church holds two services on Sundays: a traditional one featuring classic hymns at 9am and an informal Ignite Contemporary service at 11am. During the services, the church offers a nursery for babies and toddlers, and a Bible teaching and craft or game for children ages 5 to fifth grade. There is a coffee hour at 10:15 in between services.
The church grounds include Step-A-Way Nursery School and the Salt and Light Food Pantry, from which volunteers hand out food to the hungry on Saturdays, 11am-1pm. Visitors to the pantry receive two bags of groceries and a Bible.
The United Congregational Church of Westerly and Pawcatuck was formed by the union of two separate 19th-century churches in Pawcatuck and Westerly. The two churches joined together in 1931, and in 1957 the union became part of the United Church of Christ. The church is very active in the community and directs a number of socially minded missions.
Diamond Hill Methodist faith community in Cos Cob has been worshipping together since 1833. Sunday morning services are held weekly at 10am. Every other Sunday, children are invited to attend Sunday School activities during the second half of the service. Childcare is always available.
Bible Study for adults and young people is offered weekly on Sundays at 11:30am, following worship.
A half-hour Taize service of song, prayer and meditation is held every Thursday at 7:30pm. Attendees represent a number of area churches.
Diamond Hill's concerts, theatrical productions and monthly coffee house provide an opportunity for the congregation to connect with the local arts community. Events are documented on the church's arts blog.