Connecticut
From BrethrenPedia
See Branches of Plymouth Brethren to explain abbreviation types (although in short: OB (& TW-P) are Halls & Chapels within the "open brethren" (although GH's (generally) maintain a separate network from the Chapels). EB/TW/TW-N are "Careful" Brethren (similar to OB Halls), and BC are (generally) independent community churches with early or indirect PB influence, and will (usually) not consider themselves "Brethren"). AA/CA refers to assemblies of African or Caribbean origin, or predominant demographic, although all ethnicities are overly welcome in any assemblies.
The above primer link expands on the abbreviations, and also contains introduction to this (and other) sheets within the overall History. There have been scores of branches with their own distinctive networks and strengths within the history of the PB, and many branches continue to flourish today, and while no assembly or gathering is identical to the others, each is thought to maintain a fervent desire for simplicity in gathering around the Lord Jesus, though practices and secondary doctrines may vary culturally and/or preferentially as autonomous (yet inter-dependent) local churches.
Assemblies are sorted geographically, and will, D.V., eventually have further history within. Red links on Brethrenpedia are presently undeveloped, and blue links contain data. Appreciate patience with our progress, and if you'd like to help, please contact any of the editing team, preferably via social media. Also see Connecticut history for more on the OB history.
Contents
North Central CT (Hartford metro)
Hartford County
Bristol
- Bristol Bible Chapel, CT (OB) 1983-2022+
- hive from Cheshire Bible Chapel
- @ Bristol Boys and Girls Club: 105 Laurel St. +1989-2012+; 18 Academy St. - present;
- c/o Brian Sorel +1989-2022+;
- Bristol Gospel Hall, CT (Italian OB) +1936-1998; (OB) 2014???-2022+
- @ 8 Dudley St. +1936+; 89 N. Main St. +1941-1943+; 16 Summer St. +1947; 54 Talmadge St. 1948-1998; home of Nick Dalfino ?-present;
- c/o Antonio Barbati +1936-1943+; Damiano Colella +1947-1955; Domiano Colella 1956-1963; Carmelo Ferraro 1964; D. Cristofero 1965; Caomelo Ferrone (sic?) 1966-1968; Carmelo Ferraro 1969-1991; Alfonso Diliberto 1992-1998; Nick Dalfino ?-present; Nick left this assembly for Hartford Gospel Hall in the 1940's or 1950's, then the TW's, then returned to Hartford.
Enfield
- Fellowship Bible Chapel, CT (OB) +1986-1999
- hived from Prospect Bible Chapel.
- @ Masonic Temple, 141 Orchard St., Ellington +1986-1992; 325 Hazard Ave., Enfield 1993-1999
- c/o Tim Brown (@ Ellington +1986-1987, @ Enfield 1988-1993, @ Somers 1994-1999);
Hartford
- Hartford Gospel Hall, CT (OB) 1910's-1990+
- Charter Oak Gospel Hall 1985-1990+
- @ 435 Park St. +1927+; 51 Whitmore St. +1933+; 1st floor, 53 Whitmore St. +1936-1947; 49 Charter Oak Ave. 1948+; 53 Whitmore St. +1950+; 464 Farmington Ave. +1954-1966; 685 Broad St. 1967-1984; 49 Charter Oak Ave. 1985-1990+
- c/o N.J. Reager @ 86 Seymour St. +1927+; Nick Vendetta @ Windsor +1936-1982; Matthew J. Brescia 1984-1990+;
- Hartford Meeting Room, CT (EB) +1901-1903+
- c/o Mrs. Oliver A. Plummer
- Prospect Bible Chapel, CT (OB) Late 1800's/1909-2022+
- Gospel Hall Society 1920's-1934; Scripture Truth Church 1934; Prospect Gospel Chapel / Hartford Gospel Chapel 1934-1983; Prospect Bible Chapel 1983-present;
- @ City Mission buildings, 234 Pearl St. +1904+; Asylum St. 1907+; Room 10, 17 Haynes St. +1927+; 576 Prospect Ave. 1934-present;
- c/o Duncan M. Surgenor +1927-1936+; William H. Surgenor +1941+, +1947-1948+; George McGee +1950-1954; Alexander Brown 1955-1963, 1966-1979 (@ Hartford 1955-1963; @ Wapping 1966-1971; @ Vernon 1972-1979); Thomas E. Woods @ Manchester 1980-1990+
- Elizabeth Smith Wilson (Mrs. T. Ernest Wilson) was commended from this assembly to Angola, as were Gordon Reager & Neil Dougal, evangelists.
- 1904 meeting times: Sun Morn 10:30am; Sun Aft Sunday School & Bible Class 12:15pm; Sun Eve 7:30pm Wed Eve Prayer & Address 7:45pm
Manchester
- Manchester Bible Chapel, CT (OB) 1988-2022+
- hive from Prospect Bible Chapel
- @ Community Y, 78 N. Main St. 1989; @ Burton Dance Studio, 63 Linden St. 1990+
- c/o Donald R. Woods 1989-1990+
- Manchester Gospel Hall, CT (OB) 1905/1909-2022+
- South Manchester Gospel Hall 1925-1936+
- @ Salvation Army, Spruce St.; old Town Hall, Center & Main St.; 415 Center St. 1921/1925-present;
- Founders from Scranton, PA: James McCormick, Thomas Eckle, William Emerson;
- c/o James Serpliss @ 129 Summer St. 1909-1930's+; William G. McBride +1936-1962; Everett S. Glenney 1963-1976; Joseph L. Jassie 1977-1990+
- Manchester Meeting Room, CT (EB) +1889-1894+
- c/o Hugh E. May
- Oak Street Room, CT (PBCC) +1959+
- @ 55 Oak St.
Newington
- Newington Gospel Hall, CT (Italian OB) 1928-1996; (English OB) 1996-2022+
- Hartford Italian Assembly Hall 1928-1996;
- @ 464 Farmington Ave. +1933+, 73 Windsor St. +1936+; 57 Albany Ave. +1941-1948+; 49 Charter Oak Ave. +1950-1975/1983; 345 E. Cedar St. 1996-present;
- c/o G. DeLuca +1936+; Joseph DeLuca +1941-1954; Matthew Brescia @ West Hartford 1955-1967; Matthew J. Brescia @ Windsor 1968-1981;
- also see NGH's website
- Matt Brescia's father, George Brescia, was saved in 1921 at Philadelphia, fluent in both Italian and English, and joined the assembly in Philadelphia initially. Around 1928, a crowd of Italians (40-50) were saved in tent meetings in Hartford, and blessing was granted from brethren in Philadelphia to start an Italian hall in Hartford, of which George Brescia was involved, along with his twin brother Joe, and another brother Matt. Another would be Mike Magnal. At some juncture, the assembly became half Italian-speaking, and half English-speaking, and by 1996, services were completely in English.
Southington
- Southington Believers Fellowship, CT (OB) 1978-1980
- @ homes
- c/o Guy Duyon (@ 33 Vermont Ave., Southington 1978-1979; @ 34 Parker St., Waterville 1980)
- Southington Grace Fellowship, CT (OB) 1982
- c/o Paul F. Caron, 743 Pleasant St.
Suffield
- Suffield Meeting Room, CT (EB) +1879-1889+
- c/o J.H.K. Remington
Middlesex County
Middletown
- Middletown Meeting Room, CT (EB) +1896+; +1903-1905+; (TW) +1923+
- c/o Miss Trantum +1896+; Mrs. Farrow +1903-1905+; Miss Elizabeth Butcher +1923+
Tolland County
Somers
- Somers Meeting Room, CT (TW) +1985+
- c/o Mrs. Cato Sandberg
Stafford
- Stafford Springs Meeting Room, CT (EB) +1889+
- c/o J. Demster
Northeastern CT
Windham County (Worcester/Boston metro)
Brooklyn
- Bethel Bible Chapel, CT (OB) 1987-1989
- @ 94 S. Main St., Brooklyn/Danielson 1987-1989;
- c/o Pat Gilroy 1987-1989
- Community Bible Chapel, CT (OB) 1987-2022+
- @ homes 1987+; 385 South St. ?-present
- founders: David Bell & Steve Chuiek;
- c/o David Bell +1991-2012+
Woodstock
- South Woodstock Meeting Room, CT (TW) +1985+
- c/o Steve Thienel
Northwestern CT
Litchfield County (NYC metro
Litchfield
- Northfield Meeting Room, CT (TW) +1985+
- c/o Robert S. Lundin
New Milford
- New Milford Meeting Room, CT (EB) +1889+
- c/o Mrs. A. Walker
Terryville
- Terryville Gospel Hall, CT (OB) +1911/1977-2022+
- Waterville Gospel Hall +1927-1950+; Gospel Hall of Waterbury +1954-1990+
- @ Thomason Ave. & Boyden St., Waterville +1936-1950+; Spencer & Phoenix Ave., Waterville +1954-1972+; 34 N. Main St., Terryville +1975-1990+; 36 N. Main St., Terryville ?-present;
- c/o William Batterton +1927-1968 (@ Waterville +1927-1956+, @ Terryville +1958-1968); Abram Vandenbush @ Terryville 1969-1972, 1975-1983; James C. Batterton @ Bethlehem 1984-
- also see TGH's FB
Thomaston
- Thomaston Meeting Room, CT (TW) +1962-1973+
- c/o Robert S. Lundin & Carroll L. Perry
Torrington
- Torrington Gospel Hall, CT (Italian OB) +1927-1990+
- @ 12 John St. +1936+; 22 Clark St. +1941-1954; 410 Migeon Ave. 1955-1990+
- c/o A. Rakyta +1927-1943+; Richard Irvine @ Scoville Hill +1947-1950+; David L. Swanney @ Great Barrington, MA +1954-1958; Victor Illuminati 1959-1990+
- After this assembly closed, believers transferred to Brookville & Terryville.
Southeast CT
New London County (Norwich/Hartford metro)
Groton
- Groton Bible Chapel, CT (OB) 1919-1990+ (BC) ?-2022+
- Afternoon S.S. 1919-1920; Groton Gospel Hall 1920-1949; Groton Gospel Chapel 1949-1973; Groton Bible Chapel 1973-present;
- @ 452 Thames St. 1919-1949; 81 Poquonnock Rd. 1949-1961; 66 Tollgate Rd. 1962-present;
- founding correspondent: Herbert R. MacKenzie 1919-1948+; William Ward +1950+; John B. Campbell @ Mystic +1954-1958; William Ward 1959-1972; R.J. Campbell @ Gales Ferry 1973-1990; Tim Kulterman @ Gales Ferry 1991-2010;
- Mystic Meeting Room, CT (TW) +1927+
- c/o Mrs. E.W. Gaskell
- Wellspring Bible Fellowship, CT (OB) 2006-2022+
- @ Welles Rd. 2006-2012+; 171 Candlewood Rd.
- c/o John Clifford 2006-2012+; Gary Campbell 2006-2012+
- also see WBF's website
Southwest CT
Fairfield County (NYC metro & Stamford metro)
Bridgeport
- Bridgeport Gospel Hall, CT (OB) +1904-1982
- @ 441 Bishop Ave. +1927-1982
- c/o Samuel Rainey @ Stratford +1927-1972; J.S. Boyd 1973-1974; Alexander MacPherson @ Stratford 1975-1977;
Brookfield
- Brookfield Gospel Hall, CT (OB) +1936/1969-2022+
- Danbury Gospel Hall (Italian OB) +1936-1968
- @ 10 1/2 Maple Ave. +1936+; 253 Main St. +1941-1947; 203 Main St. 1948-1964; Masonic Hall, 337 Main St. 1965-1968; 23 S. Main St. (?) 1969; 23 South Ave., Danbury (?) 1970-1974; 164 Pocono Rd. 1975-present;
- c/o A. Pizzo @ Danbury +1936-1974; Jack McGrath @ Northville, New Milford 1975-2006; Jim Batterton, Jr. @ Cornwall Bridge 2007-2012+
- also see BGH's website
Greenwich
- Greenwich Meeting Room, CT (EB) +1901-1908+
- c/o George Huelle
Newtown
- Community Christian Fellowship, CT (OB) 1995-2022+
- @ Scalzo Group building, Bethel; Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St., Newtown ?-present;
- Also see CCF website
- Neighborhood Bible Fellowship, CT (OB) 1973-1980
- @ Newtown High School Library, Route 34, 1973-1978; 18 Settlers Lane, Sandy Hook 1979-1980
- c/o Frank Lyon 1973-1980
Norwalk
- South Norwalk Gospel Chapel, CT (OB) 1952-1995
- @ home of Cliff & Isabel Foley (19 Overbrook Lane, Darien (?)) 1952+; 50 Lexington Ave. 1962-1970+
- founders: David Ward & Harold Harper
- c/o Clifford P. Foley 1952-1990+
Stamford
- Oaklawn Avenue Room, CT (PBCC) +1959+
- @ 298 Oaklawn Ave.
- Stamford Gospel Hall, CT (OB) +1936-1948+
- Stamford Assembly of Believers (OB) +1936+
- @ 366 Atlantic St. +1936+; 39 Worth St. +1941-1948+
- c/o Frederick McIlvenne +1941-1943+; Walter Stewart +1947-1948+
New Haven County (NYC metro)
Branford
- Branford Bible Chapel, CT (OB) 1973-2000; 2002-2005; 2022+
- hive from West Woods Bible Chapel, known by 1979 as present name.
- founders: Joseph & Andrea DePino
- @ Branford trailer 1972; Branford home 1972; gun club; local armory; home of Harold Hardisty, 120 Chestnut St. +1975; 57 Hillcrest Ave. 1976-1978; Branford Academy on the Green, corner of S. Main & Montowese 1979-1988; public schools; 212 Branford Rd., North Branford 1991-present;
- c/o H.M. McCaulley 1975-1989; Bruce Fafard @ East Haven & Guilford 1990-1999; Ken Hardisty 2001-2005;
Cheshire
- Cheshire Bible Chapel, CT (OB) 1979-2022+
- hive from West Woods Bible Chapel
- @ Cheshire Grange Hall, Wallingford Rd., Cheshire Center +1981-1986; 1103 Waterbury Rd. 1987-2022+
- c/o Jack Spender @ North Haven +1981-1985; Paul F. Caron @ Southington 1986-1994; David Cetola @ Plymouth 1995-1999; David Anthony Cetola @ Waterbury 2000-2009; Phill Belcher 2009-2012+
Derby
- Derby Meeting Room, CT (EB) +1896-1908+
- c/o Carl Lutters +1896-1905+; Jas. P. Clarke +1896-1905+; John A. Griffith +1908+ (formerly @ Seymour, CT);
Hamden
- West Woods Bible Chapel, CT (OB) 1931-2022+
- North Haven Gospel Hall (Whitney Avenue Gospel Hall) 1931-1936; New Haven Gospel Hall (Newhall Street Gospel Hall) 1936-1954; Christian Believers Assembly 1955-1961; West Woods Bible Chapel 1962-present;
- @ Whitney Ave., North Haven 1931-1937; 165 Newhall St., New Haven 1936-1943+; 449 Newhall St., Hamden +1947-1961; Alice Peck School auditorium, Shepard Ave. & Hillfield Rd. 1962-1963; 165 Hillfield Rd., Hamden 1964-present;
- c/o George Thomson +1936-1950+; Otto George @ North Haven +1954-1983; George Thomson @ Milford 1984-1987; Everett Perkins @ Cromwell 1992-1996; John Lukaszewski 1997-2006; Rich Rogozinski @ Cromwell 2007-2012+
- West Woods Bible Chapel was a 1961 hive from New Haven Gospel Hall, the latter of which continued until 1963 with George Thomson, Jr. of Milford as correspondent.
New Haven
- New Haven Italian Gospel Hall, CT @ 65 Greene St. (Italian OB) +1947-1962
- c/o Rocco Capiello
- New Haven Meeting Room, CT (EB) +1889+
- Westville Bible Chapel, CT (OB) 1976-2022+
- hive from West Woods Bible Chapel
- @ home of Ralph Kirchhofer 1976-1978; 44 Burton St. +1978+; Edgewood Club, 201 Alston Ave. 1978-present;
- founders: Jack Spender, Ralph and Lunda Kirchhofer, Peter and Pam Herndon, Dill and Katie Ewen, and John and Karen Cramm.
- c/o Ralph Kirchhofer 1979-1986; Peter Herndon 1987-1990+
- also see WBC's website
North Haven
- North Haven assembly (OB)
- hive from West Woods Bible Chapel
Seymour
- Seymour Meeting Room, CT (EB) +1903+
- c/o John A. Griffith (later at Derby, CT)
Waterbury
- Christians Saved by Grace Assembly, Waterbury, CT (OB) +1954-1958, 1960-1962.
- @ 19 Grand St. +1954-1956+; 192 Walnut St. +1958-1962;
- c/o Anthony M. Peuta +1954-1956+; Daniel Gentile +1958, 1960-1962;
- Waterbury Christian Fellowship, CT (OB) 1997-2022+
- founders: Paul & Maria Forcucci, Jack & Ruth Spender, John & Foida Monroe, & Juan Torres;
- @ home of Paul Forcucci 1997+; Sheraton Hotel; 1 Dube Ln. ?-present;
- Waterbury Italian Gospel Hall, CT (Italian OB) +1936-1977
- Waterbury Italian Gospel Chapel 1976-1977
- @ Grove & Cooke St. +1936+; 284 Bank St. +1941-1943+; 22 Saving St. +1947; 53 Spencer Ave. 1948+; 18 Spencer Ave. +1950+; 53 Spencer Ave. +1954-1973; 142 Cherry St. 1974-1977;
- c/o Marciano Stango +1936-1950+; Rocco Possidento +1954-1963; Anthony Orsini @ Walcott 1964-1972; Anthony M. Penta 1973-1977
- merged with Waterbury Gospel Hall in 1977 and relocated to Terryville.
- Waterbury Meeting Room, CT (EB) +1896-1908+
- c/o James McKinley +1889-1908+
- @ Ansonia, New Haven, CT +1889+