History of Second Church
Congregationalists date back to the early 1600s, when some people felt
that the Church of England had not been radical enough.
Persecuted by the new Church of England, these groups were forced
to flee to Holland and eventually to America, where Congregationalists
flourished.
In the early stages, church and government were usually synonymous.
In fact, worship centers were known as "meeting houses" because town
meetings were also held there. Gradually, the concept of separation
of church and state came into being.
Second Congregational Church was formed in 1835 as a daughter of First
Church in New London. The present building was dedicated in 1870,
after the first had been destroyed by fire. A full history can be
found in The Church on the Hill by Betty Morrison and is available
in the church library.
In 1957, the Congregational Church merged with the Evangelical and
Reformed Church to form the United Church of Christ. Second Church
voted to participate in the merger.
As in early congregationalism, each church governs itself and there is
no heirarchy. Local churches in a geographical area band together
loosely for mutual help and service.
Second Church is committed to service and to families. We are a
multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, community of faith.
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