Rev. John M. Gregory-Davis, Minister
 Organist/Choir Director: George M. Butler, Jr.
Junior Choir Director: Kathy Marshall
Telephone: (603)469-3235

Meriden Congregational Church
A Congregation of the United Church of Christ
Gathered 1780

"The Meeting House, when completed, shall be equally free for all denominations of Christians, as a house of Public Worship"
- vote of congregation, 1799

It shall be the purpose of this church to be a community of people who serve the world in the Name of Jesus Christ and provide a place for worship to all who are united in their belief in one God and who accept the Holy Scripture as guide to daily living, and who recognizing the variety of interpretations of doctrine, respect the rights of others to their beliefs.
- from the MCC by-laws 1986

 Forward to History

The Meriden Congregational Church has nurtured a long and faithful heritage for more than two centuries. During that time, the church has been blessed with many inividuals who have cheerfully given of their time and talents to make the church what it is today.
We are committed to making the presence of God real and the Gospel of Jesus Christ relevant through worship, prayer, study, care, energy and missions.
You are welcome to join us in prayer, worship, and service. We encourage you to enrich your Christian faith by exploring and participating in the varied activities and ministries of this gathering of God's people.

Our congregation, which is drawn from the towns surrounding Meriden, New Hampshire, both calls upon and fosters a strong sense of community, focused on the gifts and talents of children and adults, long- time members and newcomers.
Though our religious backgrounds and beliefs are diverse, we become a common body through worship, study, and care, reaching out with energy, support, and concern. We seek to build an intentional community of faithful disciples of Jesus Christ and invite you to share in our journey with us.

The Meriden Congregational Church administers two sacraments: Holy Communion on the first Sunday of each month, as well as on the first Sundays in Advent and Lent, and Baptism, as arranged after consultation with the pastor. We celebrate with our members and friends at special times in their lives through weddings, memorial services, and other rites of passage.

The Life of the Congregation Sunday worship begins at 10 a.m. We seek to enter into the presence of God, joining our hearts and voices in praise, listening for the word of God in the Holy Scriptures, and accepting the challenge to incorporate that word into our community and beyond.

Children will find themselves very much at home in our sanctuary, serving as acolytes, sharing hymns and prayers, and participating in the weekly Children's Talk. Nursery Care is available for infants and toddlers downstairs in the Parish House between 9:15 and 11:1.5 a.m. Following the Children's Talk, church school classes are taught for children aged 2 1/2 through 8th grade.

Each Sunday, Coffee and Conversation extend our fellowship time following worship. Midweek Coffee offers an opportunity to catch up with each other at the Parish House on Wednesdays, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Our Senior and Junior Choirs hold weekly rehearsals and a Handbell Choir meets seasonally. New members are always welcome.
New Member Classes and a Confirmation Program are offered for those who would like to explore membership in the church.

Special Opportunities for spiritual Growth and Celebration during the year include:

A member of the United Church of Christ since 1971, we are connected to the larger Christian Church through our participation in the Sullivan Association and the New Hampshire Conference. The UCC is a "united and uniting church" created in 1957 by the union of the Congregational Christian churches, (the New England church of Pilgrims and the Puritans), and the Evangelical and Reformed Church (with roots in Germany, France and Switzerland).

Within the UCC, each local congregation is free to make its own decisions and is organized in the tradition of the New England Town Meeting: lay leaders are elected, budgets approved, and business conducted by members of the congregation, with each member having one vote. While honoring our local church autonomy, we recognize the value of connection and cooperation with all churches in addressing the needs of our local and global community.

HISTORY:

Like most New England congregational churches, we owe our beginnings to religious dispute and economic growth. In 1761., tiring of the longstanding disagreements between those who yearned for a church fueled by enthusiastic piety and those who sought to maintain the government and church controlled social order, a group of fifty-six people from Plainfield, Connecticut decided to escape their overcrowded town and settle a new town north of Charlestown, New Hampshire on the Connecticut River.

As the new town grew and people settled near brooks and mills, it became apparent that the meeting house proposed at the town's center was too distant for those who lived on the eastern side of town. On October 8, 1779, led by Benjamin Kimball, forty-one people covenanted together to form a religious society among the settlers west of Grantham Mountain. With the assistance of the Reverend Isaiah Potter of Lebanon, the Meriden Congregational Church was organized by fourteen members on May 2, 1780.

The current building, constructed of granite and decorated with beautiful stained glass windows, was completed in 1897 and is the third on the site; it houses an Estey pipe organ which has been cited by the Organ Historical Society.

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