Our History & Heritage
For some this may not be important but for other this is very important. So we want to say first that we are not a member of the United Church of Christ (UCC) but are affiliated with the National Association of Congregational Churches. (NACCC) You can read about this organization at http://www.naccc.org/
Now to the history. Goshen Congregational Church was incorporated on December 21, 1780 with a group of eight people. The first settled minister was Rev. Samuel Whitman who served from 1788‑1818. The original Church was located on land given by the widow of Col. Ezra May and Lt. Lemuel Lyons in 1782. It had no bell or steeple and for a long time, no heat. In 1834 a tornado blew off the roof and in 1835 the church was moved to this present location where it was renovated and given a bell. Between 1788 and 2010 there have been 38 settled ministers in the church.
During it’s time here, the church building and the ministry have gone through many changes with seasons of incredible growth... and yes seasons of very difficult decline. The last decline climaxed in 2005 and the church was almost ready to close it’s doors. Praise God, in what we feel was an answer to heart felt prayers, in January of 2008, former Pastor and founder of Nehemiah Ministries Rev Wayne Briggs contacted Pastor Andy Berryhill who had recently moved back home from the Midwest to pursue church planting and asked if he would be willing to travel up from his home in East Haddam Ct and fill the pulpit and see if the ministry could be salvaged. What started off as once a month soon became twice a month... and then weekly as people gradually began to come back and come in. Through his preaching and gift and passion for worship the church began to experience a new sense of life and hope.
Whether you are looking for a church home or are passing through, we invite you to join us here at GccLife and see what God has in store for us, this and the surrounding communities and for His Kingdom at large.
Now to the history. Goshen Congregational Church was incorporated on December 21, 1780 with a group of eight people. The first settled minister was Rev. Samuel Whitman who served from 1788‑1818. The original Church was located on land given by the widow of Col. Ezra May and Lt. Lemuel Lyons in 1782. It had no bell or steeple and for a long time, no heat. In 1834 a tornado blew off the roof and in 1835 the church was moved to this present location where it was renovated and given a bell. Between 1788 and 2010 there have been 38 settled ministers in the church.
During it’s time here, the church building and the ministry have gone through many changes with seasons of incredible growth... and yes seasons of very difficult decline. The last decline climaxed in 2005 and the church was almost ready to close it’s doors. Praise God, in what we feel was an answer to heart felt prayers, in January of 2008, former Pastor and founder of Nehemiah Ministries Rev Wayne Briggs contacted Pastor Andy Berryhill who had recently moved back home from the Midwest to pursue church planting and asked if he would be willing to travel up from his home in East Haddam Ct and fill the pulpit and see if the ministry could be salvaged. What started off as once a month soon became twice a month... and then weekly as people gradually began to come back and come in. Through his preaching and gift and passion for worship the church began to experience a new sense of life and hope.
Whether you are looking for a church home or are passing through, we invite you to join us here at GccLife and see what God has in store for us, this and the surrounding communities and for His Kingdom at large.