The First Congregational Church of Vernon, Connecticut

Sunday Services are at 10am

FCCV Sunday Service
Comcast Cable Community Voice Channel 5
every Sunday at 10a & Monday at 6p

About our church...

Our History - The first inhabitants of this region were Native Americans of the Podunk, Nipmuck and Mohegan tribes. By 1637 European settlers had formed a little confederacy of three plantations in this area. Farming was the principal occupation of the first settlers, but as early as 1739, the power of the wild streams flowing through the valley had been brought into use in saw mills, grist mills and in iron works. Near these, dwelling houses were built. And so, for many years before a church was established in Vernon, there were people who were united in all civil and ecclesiastical relations with those who lived South of the valley. They took part in the earliest efforts made to secure preaching the gospel and helped to form the Church in Vernon.

The territory comprising the present town of Vernon was originally settled by parties from Windsor, and in 1760, became a parish by the name of North Bolton. The Ecclesiastical Society was formed November 12, 1762 from the north part of the Bolton Society and the east part of the Second Society of Windsor. Thirty-five members, whose names have been preserved, organized our Church which was called the Second Church of Christ in Bolton.

A Meeting House was built one-half mile east of our present church, on Meeting House Hill, now named Sunnyview Drive. It was first used as a place of worship on June 20, 1762. A bronze tablet marks the spot. The first minister was Ebenezer Kellogg, born in Norwich, CT, April 5, 1737, and a graduate of Yale College, 1757.

The Church and Ecclesiastical Society took the name of the town of Vernon in October, 1808. On April 4, 1827, a new Meeting House, on our present site, was dedicated. In 1851 the building was moved back a few feet and the beautiful spire and columns were added.

In September, 1938, the steeple was blown down and the roof heavily damaged by the terrible hurricane. The building was restored due to the generosity of Allyn and Robert Ford, whose parents had been former members. Over the years more improvements were made to the building. In 1957 Kellogg Hall educational wing was added to the church facilities and dedicated on June 10th of that year.

On January 23, 1965, the beautiful and historic church was destroyed by fire of undetermined origin but, fortunately, Kellogg Hall was saved. Due to the generosity of many other parishes and friends, and the members of our own congregation, a new building was erected and dedicated on September 24, 1966. The design was as much like the old building as possible. The architect, John Cadman, was a member of our church.

A capital fund drive named "Mission 225" was held in 1987 in conjunction with the celebration of the 225th anniversary of the church. This campaign provided funds for an elevator and other necessary modifications to help make the building more accessible to the handicapped. In 1994 it was decided to put vinyl siding on the Meeting House to significantly reduce future maintenance costs. That same year the church purchased a 3.24 acre piece of land next door for future use. As we begin the 21st century we have voted to establish a Memorial Garden on church property.

Since our first minister, Rev. Kellogg, who served for 55 years, we have had approximately 50 ministers. Some of the more recent ones are:

Senior Pastors, The Reverends George Higgins 1947-1949; John Lacey 1963-1989; William Sexton 1990-1998; and our present Senior Minister Dr. Peter R. K. Brenner 2000-

Minister of Christian Education, Rev. Betsy French Reed 1966-1971 and Linda Shivers, March 2007

Associate Pastors, The Reverends Randall Ferrara 1969-1971; Edwin Bartholomew 1971-1977; David Bowling 1978-1990, and our present Associate Pastor Cynthia Carr 1991-.

Our church has also been served by many excellent interim ministers over the years.

With the help of God, may we continue on many more years.