June 1, 2025: The Congregational Church of Eastford’s Groundbreaking Ceremony at 54 John Perry Road, Eastford was held after our worship service. A “Prayer Wagon” and golf carts were used as transportation to the site and many walked from the school to the site. The Groundbreaking Ceremony began around noon. Pastor Mike reminded the congregation of a verse the Lord impressed on him for the new year in 2016 (Isaiah 54:2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.“) and offered that this new site offers plenty of room for current and future generations. Prayers were offered from 6 generations (Silent Generation through Alpha Generation) and all joined in songs of praise. Eric Payer, project manager from Church Development Services, led the groundbreaking portion of the ceremony. Associate Pastor Evan Burgess closed the service in prayer.
October 1, 2024: Evan Burgess officially joined the Congregational Church of Eastford as Associate Pastor.
July 21, 2024: The members of the Congregational Church of Eastford voted unanimously to appoint Evan Burgess as our Associate Pastor. The call was extended by telephone and the answer is “yes”. God is good, and we give Him praise and thanks for His abundant provision.
May 22, 2024: The Congregational Church of Eastford’s membership voted overwhelmingly to relocate to a new site as they rebuild following the loss of their building last year to fire. The new site is on John Perry Road. The decision was driven both by our vision to bless our community and by our expectation of future growth. The new location provides abundant space both indoors and out for a new building for worship, programs for children and adults, space to host community events, and future growth potential. The beautiful old building served the church and Eastford for nearly 200 years, and we will all miss it. While the old hilltop location on Church Road was beautiful, the space was too small. On a new site and in a new building we intend to provide for another century or two of blessings. It is hoped that the new building will be ready by late 2026.
Mr. Andrew Judson 1778-1804
Rev. John Judson 1807-1809
Rev. Hollis Samson 1809-1816
Rev. John Nichols 1816-1818
Rev. Reuben Torrey 1820-1840
Rev. Francis Williams 1841-1851
Rev. William Birchard 1853-1854
Rev. Henry Hamner 1854-1855
Rev. Sumner Clark 1856-1857, 1868-1872
Rev. Charles Chamberlain 1857-1867
Rev. C. E. Grigs 1867
Rev. C. M. Jones 1872-1888
Rev. Fredrick Chandler 1889-1892
Rev. J. P. Trowbridge 1892-1902
Rev. J. P. Aldrich 1902-1905
Rev. W. L. Linaberry 1905-1908
Rev. James B. King 1908-1915
Rev. Arthur Linscott 1916-1917
Rev. Stanley Sherman 1917-1920
Rev. Frank T. Meacham 1920-1922
Rev. Frank K. Abbott 1922-1925
Rev. Walter Lanphear 1927-1929
Rev. George H. Reese 1930-1950
Rev. Arthur W. Childs 1950-1956
Rev. James R. Bunker 1956-1959
Rev. Ralph W. Shirk 1959-1962
Rev. E. Rex Taylor 1963-1964
Rev. Ralph Hirtle 1965-1968
Rev. Charles Duncan 1969-1975
Rev. Robert R. Branch 1976-1983
Rev. Stacy A. Howard 1984-1987
Rev. Peter W. Murdy 1988-1999
Donald J. Hay 2000-2003
Rev. Michael Moran 2004-
- Assoc. Pastor Evan Burgess 2024-
- 1920 information about Eastford Congregational Church is found in A Modern History of Windham County Connecticut. The full document can be found at the Connecticut General Assembly website at https://www.cga.ct.gov/hco/books/History_of_Windham_County_Vol1.pdf.
- 1838 Articles of Faith and Covenant
- Ashford’s settlement began at Mount Hope (Warrenville) in 1710, and was made a town October 1714, from which Eastford was set off as a Society, October 1777, and a town, May 1847.
