Our Church History
A Brief Account of Church History
Enfield Congregational, United Church of Christ enjoys a long history. Our church was authorized in 1683, and our first building was very small, and was located at what is now the entrance to the Enfield Street Cemetery. Enfield was a rapidly growing town and our second building was completed in 1708. Our third church building was the building that is currently occupied by the Historical Society and was opened on January 1, 1775. Our present church building opened in 1849 and although it is architecturally the same, the interior has gone through some significant changes.
There are a lot of things that Enfield Congregational, United Church of Christ could be known for: the oldest church building in Enfield, being the tallest building in Enfield, however in July 1741 in our second building, the sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” was delivered by the Reverend Jonathan Edwards.
Four months later, a minuteman rider came through town to a tavern located on the corner of Enfield Street and Bridge Lane to announce that war had started in Boston. A frequenter of the tavern obtained a drum and marched around the regularly scheduled Thursday service, breaking the meeting up. To commemorate that event, a statue was erected on the property in front of our present building.
We are very proud of our church and our church history and the changes that have taken place sine our first worship service in 1680.
Take a self-guided tour
Learn about the historical items at ECUCC
Among the items:
- 19th century communion set
- French Whale oil Chandelier
- Pipe Organ Facade
- Bell cast in 1830
- Locally made Cello
Download a pdf copy of
“A History of God’s Standing Order Church in Enfield,” authored by F Russell Meyer, by clicking on the link below:
Of Worthy Note:
The Reverend Jonathan Edwards preached his famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” at the peak of “The Great Awakening” in our second building (not present building).
A look back at our church around 1909
Photo courtesy of the Enfield Public Library
Our sanctuary as it looked around 1909
Photo courtesy of the Enfield Public Library