Connecticut

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Revision as of 22:19, 14 December 2021 by Doug Engle (talk | contribs) (added history from Ted Kaulback regarding Hartford, Manchester, etc.)

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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.

North Central CT (Hartford metro)

Hartford County

Bristol

  • Bristol Gospel Hall, CT (Italian OB) +1936-1941+; (OB) +1985?-2022?+
    • @ 8 Dudley St. +1936+; 89 N. Main St. +1941+; home of Nick Dalfino +1985-present;
    • c/o Antonio Barbati +1936-1941+; Nick Dalfino +1985-present; Nick left for Hartford Gospel Hall in the 1940's or 1950's, then the TW's, then returned to Hartford.

Enfield

Hartford

  • [[Hartford Gospel Hall, CT (OB) 1910's-1933+
    • @ 435 Park St. +1927+; 51 Whitmore St. +1933+; 1st floor, 53 Whitmore St. +1936-1941+; 685 Broad St. +present;
    • c/o N.J. Reager @ 86 Seymour St. +1927+; Matt Brescia's uncle Nick Vendetta @ Windsor +1936-1941+; nephew Francis Vendetta married an English girl and moved to this assembly from the Italian meeting, and during WWII served with the Navy in Hawaii, and returned there in the 1950's moved to Hawaii with the Navy in WWII and started an assembly, son Tommy is still there.


  • Prospect Bible Chapel, CT (OB) Late 1800's/1909-2022+
    • Gospel Hall Society 1920's-1934; Scripture Truth Church 1934; Prospect Avenue 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+;
    • Elizabeth Smith Wilson (Mrs. T. Ernest Wilson) was commended from this assembly to Angola, as were Gordon Reager & Neil Dougal, evangelists.
    • also see Hartford Hall, CT (OB) +1904+


Manchester

  • 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;
    • c/o Founders were three brothers from Scranton, PA: James McCormick, Thomas Eckle, William Emerson; James Serpliss @ 129 Summer St. 1909-1930's+; William McBride +1936-1968+;

Newington

  • Newington Gospel Hall, CT (Italian OB) 1928-1996; (English OB) 1996-2022+
    • Hartford Italian Assembly Hall 1928-1996;
    • @ Farmington Ave. +1933+, 73 Windsor St. +1936+; 57 Albany Ave. +1941+; 457 Charter Oak Ave. 1946-1996; 345 E. Cedar St.
    • c/o G. DeLuca +1936+; J. DeLuca +1941+; Matt Brescia - present
    • 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.
  • Farmington Avenue Gospel Hall (OB) +1933+
    • @ 464 Farmington Ave.
    • short term hive from the Whitmore Street meeting?


Suffield

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

Stafford

Northeastern CT

Windham County (Worcester/Boston metro)

Brooklyn

Woodstock

Northwestern CT

Litchfield County (NYC metro

Litchfield

New Milford

Terryville

Thomaston

Torrington

  • Torrington Gospel Hall, CT (Italian OB) +1927-1941+
    • @ 12 John St. +1936+; 22 Clark St. +1941+
    • c/o A. Rakyta +1927-1941+; Victor Illuminati - long time
    • After this assembly closed the believers transferred to Brookville & Terryville.

Southeast CT

New London County (Norwich/Hartford metro)

Groton

  • Groton Bible Chapel, CT (OB) 1919-? (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. 1949-1959; 66 Tollgate Rd. 1959-present;
    • founding correspondent: Herbert R. MacKenzie @ 15 Dean St. 1919-1941+

Southwest CT

Fairfield County (NYC metro & Stamford metro)

Bridgeport

Brookfield

Danbury

  • Danbury Gospel Hall, CT (Italian OB) +1936-1941+
    • @ 10 1/2 Maple Ave. +1936+; 253 Main St. +1941+
    • c/o A. Pizzo +1936-1941+

Greenwich

Newtown

Norwalk

Stamford

  • Stamford Gospel Hall, CT (OB) +1936-1941+
    • Stamford Assembly of Believers (OB) +1936+
    • @ 366 Atlantic St. +1936+; 39 Worth St. +1941+
    • c/o Frederick McIlvenne +1941+

New Haven County (NYC metro)

Branford

  • Branford Bible Chapel, CT (OB) 1973-2022+
    • hive from West Woods Bible Chapel
    • founders: Joseph & Andrea DePino
    • @ Branford trailer 1972; Branford home 1972; gun club; local armory; Branford Academy on the Green; public schools; 212 Branford Rd., North Branford 1991-present;

Cheshire

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+
    • Whitney Avenue Gospel Hall 1931-1937; Newhall Street Gospel Hall 1937-1960's; West Woods Bible Chapel 1960's-present;
    • @ Whitney Ave., North Haven 1931-1937; Newhall St., New Haven 1937-1960's; 165 Hillfield Rd., Hamden 1960's-present;

New Haven

North Haven

Seymour

Waterbury

  • 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 Gospel Hall, CT (OB) +1911-1941+
    • Waterville Gospel Hall +1927-1941+
    • @ Thomason Ave. & Boyden St. +1936-1941+
    • c/o William Batterton @ 311 Boyten St. +1927-1941+
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