A BRIEF HISTORY OF FIRST CHURCH

Roger Ludlowe, deputy governor of Connecticut, and a handful of families from Windsor came in 1639 to a place the Sasqua Indians called Uncoway.  In congregational style, one or another of these Puritans was selected to conduct services until the Rev. Jones arrived in 1644. Jones, a graduate of Cambridge University, was an ordained Anglican minister.  Some 15 to 20 families from Concord, Massachusetts, joined him on the trek to Unquoay, which was renamed Fairfield in 1645.

As town and church grew, Jones led the congregation until his death in 1664. Before then Fairfield had the fourth largest population among the colonies nine towns, and the church had moved into a handsome new meeting house.

Despite Puritan ideals and commitment to creating a Godly society, there were profound and tragic abuses of power in the early days, most significantly the genocide of the Pequot inhabitants of costal lands and the execution of Goody Knapp, accused of witchcraft, in 1654.

In 1690 Fairfield stretched from Stratford to Norwalk, and included what are now Bridgeport, Easton, Westport, Weston and Redding.  First Church served the entire area, but a population increased, groups in outlying sections began campaigning for the right to establish their own parishes, with their own ministers.  In 1691, Pequonnock (now Stratfield) was the first to be granted permission.  Other new parishes followed. By 1763 there were seven churches in the original Fairfield area- all descended from First Church.

In 1773 Rev. Andrew Eliot became pastor.  His blazing oratory in support of the colonial cause whipped his parishioners to fervent support for rebellion against the English Crown.  On July 7, 1779, an English fleet landed British and Hessian troops in Fairfield. They burned the Congregational and Anglican churches, the Congregational parsonage, schoolhouses, the courthouse, nearly 50 shops and stores, almost 100 houses and many barns.  Fairfield had received a devastating blow.  By the time the town was rebuilt, it had lost much of its normal business, as well as prestige, to neighboring Newfield (now Bridgeport).

In the 19th Century Revs. Herman Humphrey and Nathaniel Hewit and members of First Church were leaders in the temperance movement. The night before Memorial Day 1890, the church building was destroyed, apparently the work of an arsonist. The current building completed in 1892, is the sixth meeting house of the church to occupy this spot.  The early 20th century saw a renewed commitment to Christian education in the Sunday School movement and in community outreach.

Today the church is deeply committed to a "servant" identity wherein we seek to serve God and God's people in metropolitan Bridgeport and throughout the world.  Recent involvements have included development of elderly housing, founding and establishing operation Hope Shelter and food program, Habitat for Humanity, Literacy Volunteers, Project Learn homework help program, interfaith trips to Israel, sister church relationship with Walters AME Zion Church in Bridgeport, Holocaust studies, refugee resettlement, affordable housing, Nes Ammim Israel and being an Open and Affirming Church.  Mindful of the rich tradition of our Purtain heritage; aware of the need to move through the world as humble seekers after truth; and strong in our commitment to God's love and justice, we pray that our gathered church may advance God's purpose in building a truly Godly society.