Our Story

Park Congregational Church is sustained by faith in God and Jesus Christ as the Son of God, who is head of the Church.  Whoever you are and wherever you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.  

Park Congregational Church, UCC, engages and supports all people through worship, fellowship, learning and service so that all may find in this community the Spirit of the Living Christ.

In this spirit we declare that this church is Open and Affirming.  We welcome persons of every age, gender, gender identity and gender expression, sexual orientation, race, national origin, faith background, marital status and family structure, mental and physical ability, economic and social status and educational background.  

We invite all into the sanctuary of our fellowship and the full life and ministry of our church. 

YOU'RE WELCOME HERE. REALLY.

Our mission at Park Congregational Church is to embark

on a mindful journey to follow

in the ways, teachings, and example of Christ;

to love God with all our heart, mind and strength; 

and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

We are an inclusive community drawn together

to open our hearts, minds, and lives to the teachings of Christ.  

Our vision for Park Congregational Church

is to enrich our lives and the lives of others through faith and spiritual growth.  

We cherish a diversity of views which allows us to celebrate the glory of God 

and welcome every person no matter who they are 

and no matter where they are on life’s journey.  

We will achieve our vision by implementing ministries that serve the church, 

the local community and the world.

Norwich was founded by English Puritans in the 17th century and Congregational meeting houses were built as the city of Norwich grew. Park Congregational Church was the seventh, established in 1874 by the Reverend Malcolm McGregor Dana and 105 of his members from the Second Congregational Church of Norwich.

Below is a chronology of our founding and history:

1.  After the end to the Civil War, growing development of Norwich expanded to around Williams Park (name changed in 1870 to Chelsea Parade).

2.  In September 1872, a meeting was held to discuss the need to build a church near the new homes around Williams Park.  A new church would eliminate the inconvenient trip to Norwich and Norwichtown churches as very few people kept horses.

3.  Soon $70,000 was pledged to build the new church.  Land at the corner of Broadway and Crescent Street was donated by Harriet Williams (estimated value $13,000).

4.  The building committee (John Slater/Charles Cogswell/Ebenezer Learned & Hugh Osgood) decided to build a church like North Congregational Church of Springfield MA.

5.  Earle & Fuller, Architects, of Boston was hired.  Norcross Brothers of Worcester MA was the building contractor.

6.  Ground was broken on May 8, 1873.  Cornerstone was laid July 10, 1873.

[Brownstone came from Norcross Brothers quarries in Longmeadow MA (near Springfield).]

7.  The Chapel was completed on April 1, 1874 (meeting contract deadlines).

8.  On April 28, 1874 the church was officially organized.  Original members numbered 138.

 Church held 900 people and the Chapel held 350 --- 1200 attended the church dedication

 Chapel clock was donated by the original construction workers.

9.  The completed church cost $100,000 with many additional gifts: memorial windows, two organs, & belfry chimes.  (John Slater donated $33,000.)

Church services were Sunday morning & evening as well as Thursday evening.

Original Organ came from “Walckers” in Ludwigsburg, Germany.

Original lighting was gas.

Original heating was coal/steam with registers in every pew.

10.  In the beginning, Sunday School had more than 200 pupils and met in the chapel.

(One of the consecrated teachers was Senator Lafayette S. Foster, who served as
 Acting Vice President of the United States at one time.)

11.  In 1886, the Ladies’ Association was organized.

12.  In 1887, William Slater (son of John Slater) donated the Teel House to Park Church as the parsonage.

13.  In 1897, Hugh Osgood bought and donated the land next to Park for a Parish House ($35,000).

14.  In 1902, the Parish House was added to the church.

Mrs. Hugh Osgood donated $35,000 (+ ~$6,000 from parishioners) to build the Parish House

The Parish House was built so admission could be charged for social events (General consensus was that there should be no monetary charge to use the church or chapel.)

15.  In 1911, the church chapel interior was redecorated and electricity installed in whole church.

16.  In 1915, the renting of pews was discontinued, and a system of pledges was adopted.

17.  In 1925, the bell tower clock was replaced with a Seth Thomas clock mechanism.

18.  The 1938 hurricane did extensive damage to the church.  Most of the slate roof was lost, rain stained the walls & ceilings, and many of the memorial windows were broken.

19.  In 1940, a cabin was built in the basement to be used by the Boy Scouts.

20.  In 1947, toilet facilities were added

21.  In 1949, the sanctuary was completely renovated ($75,000).

Pews were rearranged to their present configuration.

Main doors were changed to swing outward.

The Main Door vestibule was added.

Heating was changed to iron radiators.

The Alter area was changed. Organ pipes were hidden by drapes.

Organ console was lowered to be inconspicuous.

Light fixtures were replaced (stain glass octagon).

The ceiling was insulated.

All woodwork was refinished in oak stain.

Plywood was placed on floor to level and asphalt tile & carpet installed.

Choir room became Pastor's Office (Howe Memorial Study).

22.  In 1952, the Parish House parlors were renovated.

23.  In 1957, Park merged with two other churches (Evangelical & Reformed Churches).

24.  In 1960, an addition was added to Park Church (library, pastor & secretary offices, and Nursery School).

25.  In October 1964, the nursery school was established.

26.  In 1964, a new organ was installed.

1.  All church windows were created by Friedrich Brothers of Brooklyn NY.

2.  The east & west transept windows were designed by Louis Tiffany of NY.

 (Louis Tiffany was known as the developer of Tiffany Favrile Glass)

3.  Mrs. Harriet Peck Williams donated the windows facing Broadway in memory of her husband General William Williams.  She also donated the ten Bell Tower Bells.

4.  The Rose window was first suggested by the first minister, Rev. Malcolm Dana.  It is possible that it was designed by Louis Tiffany. 

5.  The semi-circle window on the east porch, containing a cherub angel, was given by Ebenezer Learned, a local insurance executive.

6.  The Bard memorial window in the chapel was given in memory of two older brothers (Charles -10 & Frank - 8).  They died of Scarlet Fever (Strep Throat) within 23 days of each other.  The boys were survived by a younger brother, Albert, who was born in 1866, grew up at 241 Broadway, and attended NFA.  Albert later fought for cities to have the right to protect their architectural heritage, particularly New York City.

7.   On the second floor of the parish house is a stained glass window that portrays Jesus Christ as a young man.  This window originally was located at a church in Minnesota.  When the church was abandoned, the window was bought and donated to Park Church by Faith Atterbury, who had been a member of both churches.  On the bottom, the window is marked “Tiffany Glass and Decorating Co., New York.” (1927)  

8.  On the third floor of the parish house, there was a cherub looking down from a deep blue field bordered with lilies. This window was removed and placed above the doorway leading from the Chapel to the Parlor during renovations in the 2023 for better visibility by more people. (It also may be a Tiffany Window.)

9.  The parish house stained glass windows were created by Lewis J. Flagg and McDonald Stained Glass Works of Boston.