A Brief History of Our Church

Click here to see the timeline of our church

The following are excerpts from The Last Quarter Century: 1965-1990 written and illustrated by Helen Sickles Allen to commemorate the 325th anniversary of The First Congregational Church of Greenwich:

The First Congregational Church of Greenwich was created by an act of the General Court of the Colony of Connecticut passed at the May 1665 session. This action of legislature authorized the establishment of “the First Church of Christ in Greenwich” or “First Society of Christ” or “The East Society”. The name “Congregational” was not applied generally in New England until after the Revolutionary War. The growth of Greenwich was so slow that it was not until about 1669 that the inhabitants numbered enough to support a minister of their own.

The first recorded religious services in the town of Greenwich were held in 1656 in the houses of settlers. In 1667 a newly built schoolhouse became the place of worship as well as a central meeting place for the inhabitants. It is probable that the religious services were conducted by the clergy of the First Society of Stamford from 1645 on in “private houses or in the open air.”

1694

1735

1835

During the years since then the church has slowly grown, meeting all the community problems of war, poverty, sorrow, anxiety, peace and prosperity which have marked these three and a quarter centuries. In 1960 our church became affiliated with the United Church of Christ and is now known as The First Congregational Church of Greenwich, Old Greenwich, Connecticut.

The stone “Meetinghouse”, dedicated in 1895, was the fourth one built to house the congregation and was an adaptation of a Norman-Gothic structure built in England in 1100. The building was expanded in 1930 with the construction of the June Binney Memorial Parish House. The education wing was added later, and dedicated in 1952. The Meetinghouse itself was enlarged and partially reconstructed during the years 1960-1962.

1896	Today (click to enlarge)

Timeline of Events in our Church

	1600′s
1656	The first recorded religious services in town were held in the houses of settlers.
1664	The 7 Proprietors: Jeffre Ferris, Senre; Joshua Knapp, Senre; Joseph Ferris, Jonathan Reynolds, Angell Heusted, John Mead and John Hobbe wanted their own church & town separate from Stamford. Church and government were inseparable. They had Congregational values of free choice.
1665	May 11 Charter: The church was incorporated by the General Court of the Colony of Connecticut as the First Church of Christ in Greenwich.
1667	A newly built schoolhouse became the place of worship as well as a central meeting place.
1669	The first pastor was Eliphalet Jones who was shared by other churches.
1670	William Grimes left his land for town/church improvements.
1678	Jeremiah Peck became the first settled minister.
1694	A new church was built at Tomac & Lockwood Ave. It was 32 feet long by 26 feet wide.
	1700′s
1735	A second two-story wooden building for the church was built on the same spot as the first.
	1800′s
1785	Members of the church had to buy a pew.
1816	First Sunday School began.
1835	A third two-story wooden building for the church was built on Sound Beach Ave., on south part of the cemetary.
1835-36	Regular church attendance or you were fined. Attendance was more than a duty – it was a social obligation. Sabbath breaking, intoxication and profanity were causes for excommunication. Due to those rules, for these years only women were members of the church.
1872	Our part of town changed its name to “Sound Beach” as the railroad brought summer residents.
1890	The church was renamed to “First Congregational Church of Greenwich”. 85 members, 102 in church school.
1895	The stone Meetinghouse was built for $21,453.
1895	Wooden church in cemetery destroyed by fire; including church school records and library. Silver and pewter were saved.
	1900′s
1927	Allan Lorimer became pastor. He helped organize the Lions Club, was Grand Chaplain of Masonic Lodge, CT, and a founding member of the Greenwich Historical Society.
1928	Edwin Binney gave Binney Park to the town. It was a swampy mire.
1930	The June Binney Memorial Parish House (church offices and auditorium) was added.
1930	The Robert Stewart’s gave the bell tower with twelve bells.
1931	Our part of town changed its name from “Sound Beach” to “Old Greenwich”
1935	Rev. Alden Mosshammer followed Rev. Lorimer, working with the youth group, Boy Scouts, YMCA, Community Chest, Lions Club, Men’s Club and putting the church back on a sound financial basis.
1938	The restoration of Tomac Cemetery was guided by Helen Binney Kitchel and the Old Greenwich Garden Club.
1941	Rev. Vincent Daniels became pastor, making the church even more community minded. The church membership grew very large.
1950-1962	Pastor Herman Reissig added new dimensions to the church’s social consciousness and outreach.
1950s	The Easter sunrise service tradition began. It’s led by the youth group.
1952	The Education wing was added and dedicated. (The current lounge/kitchen/3rd floor/offices)
1955	The Nursery School began for 3 and 4 year olds on weekdays. (Later renamed the Preschool.)
1960	Our church became affiliated with the United Church of Christ.
1960-62	The meetinghouse was doubled in size and the pews were rotated 180 degrees. The big chancel window added, as well as the windows along the chapel and narthex. The undercroft and educational facilities were expanded.
1960s	Outreach projects were underway to help many others outside our church.
1963	Dr. Vincent Daniels died suddenly.
1964	The Rummage Room opened, replacing the annual church rummage sale.
1965	The church’s summer day camp began.
1965	There was a year long celebration of FCCOG’s 300 years.
1966	The annual Handel’s Messiah concert began, directed by Richard Vogt.
1966	The Meetinghouse News (later called the Meetinghouse Monthly) began as a bimonthly.
1967	Our church services began being broadcast on WGCH radio.
1968	The once-every-four-years “Noye’s Fludde” production began, directed by Richard Vogt.
1970	The youth group began work projects in the local area and in other states and, now, countries.
1973	The 9:15 am and 11 am services were combined into one 10 am service and a coffee hour.
1973	Recognition Sunday began as an annual event to thank the church school volunteers and staff and give Bibles to the third graders.
1975	Stephen Ministry originated in Saint Louis. It began at our church in 1990.
1975	The first woman became a senior deacon. By 1990 there were still only 2 women who had been senior deacons.
1976	Rev. Tom Stiers was promoted to Senior Pastor when Rev. Paul Yinger left.
1978	A new Austin organ was installed.
1979	8 am beach services were started in June, July and August.
1979	The Columbarium, at the far side of the cemetery, was built to add 1,200 spaces.
1980	Rev. Dale M. Green became the first female minister.
1981	The first Music Sunday in May was held with strawberries & cream and maypole dancing.
1988	The Memory Garden was created – paved and landscaped.
1989	The Daniels Center was named and remodeled from the old gym downstairs.
1989	The Board of Deacons merged from the separate deacon groups: Deacons and Deaconesses.
1989	Long range planning began (Twelve keys to an Effective Church).
1990	The 325 anniversary year of FCCOG and the town celebration.
1991	50 FCCOG families were dealing with unemployment. Housed homeless men in the Daniels Center at our church for two weeks.
1991	Stephen Ministry first class began at our church.
1991	First Person Singular began at our church.
1995	Richard Vogt suddenly passed.
1996	George Handley began as Business Administrator.
1997	The fccog.org website was launched. By 2007 it has audio sermons and by 2009 you can hear Bible study classes.
1997	Mary Babbidge began as Cemetery Administrator and Records Clerk.
	2000′s
2000	70 FCCOG travellers went to the Holy Land.
2000	Kirk Young began as Financial Administrator.
2001	Donna White began as Senior Administrative Assistant.
2002	Rosemary Lamie began as Church School Coordinator with Jenny Lepoutre for two years. Rosemary is now Director of Church School.
2003	Open and Affirming policy adopted.
2003	Rev. Tom Stiers retired after 30 years with our church.
2003	Rev. Sally Colegrove called as Senior Pastor at Windham Hill, ME.
2004	Susan Asselin, RN, took over from Dee Coover as our Parish Nurse.
2005	Rev. Dr. David Young called as Senior Pastor.
2006	Ginny Breismeister began as Director of Membership.
2007	Rev. Susie Craig called to UCC Conference in ME.
2007	Rev. Daniel B. England began as Minister of Communication and Adult Education.
2008	Rev. Mark D. Montgomery called as Associate Pastor.
2008	The first FCCOG same sex marriage performed (Stansell & Pellegrino).
2009	Rev. Avery C. Manchester began as Minister of Pastoral Care.
2009	New Mission Teams were formed to help in the areas of environmental, hunger, international, literacy, national, shelter and visitation.
2010	John Stansell, Minister of Music, retired.
2010	Barb Wilkov began as Director of Publications.
2010	Dr. Craig Scott Symons began as Director of Music/Organist.
2011	The 5 pm Sunday linc services began, led by Rev. Mark Montgomery.
2012	Rev. Dr. David Young resigned.

2015	The 350th anniversary year of our church.

A Brief History of Our Church

Timeline of Events in our Church

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