Church History

On May 14, 1798, sixteen people, ten women and six men, entered into a covenant with God and each other to form the Church of Christ in Columbia. The Prospect Congregational Church, U.C.C, celebrated its 200th anniversary in May, 1998. At that time, a stone marker was dedicated on the Prospect Green at the site of the first meetinghouse which stood there from 1778 to 1841. This building served an area set apart from Waterbury and Cheshire for “winter” privileges in what was called Columbia Parish. Several other church buildings followed, including a fieldstone edifice with stained glass windows. This building was destroyed by fire in 1941. The present edifice was dedicated in 1951 and the Spellman Hall addition was added in 1959. Educational and social programs were established through the years including the Sunday School, a Christian Endeavor Society, a Lyceum, the first women's organization in 1850, a men's group in the early 20th century and an outstanding senior high youth fellowship later in that century.

This church has been a place where God's people have worked, often against tremendous odds and adversity, where significant leaders have come and gone, where important movements had a center, where the body of Christ found and the sacraments were rightfully administered and the Gospel faithfully preached. The 200 year old history of this Church was published in 2003 under the title of “A Church Set Upon a Hill”. We are proud of our heritage and we hope to pass it on to future generations. We invite all to become a part of our present community of faith.