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Connecticut

Revision as of 20:35, 20 December 2021 by Doug Engle (talk | contribs) (added some genealogy)

Revision as of 20:35, 20 December 2021 by Doug Engle (talk | contribs) (added some genealogy)

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 dadmany 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. +1989-2013+; 45 Fox Run Rd.(?) 2013; 18 Academy St. 2014-present;
    • c/o Brian Sorel +1989-2022+; Nick Dalfino 2013; Dan Symolon 2014-2022+;
  • 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, 45 Fox Run Rd. 2014-2021;
    • c/o Antonio Barbati +1936-1943+ (b. 1895 San Basile, Cosenza, Italy - d. 1968 Meriden, New Haven, CT). Settled in Hartford in 1913. Occupation in 1928 as a printing press operator, living at 90 Heath St., Hartford. Naturalized in 1933, while living at 96 View St., Bristol. Scars on the right side of his forehead, and on his right cheek. 1940 was a land surveyor. Wife: Rosina "Rose" Pugliese Barbati (b. 1895 San Basile, Cosenza, Italy - d. 1988 Meriden, New Haven, CT), settled in 1913 in Hartford. Rose's naturalization in 1943 was witnessed by Rose Colella @ 37 Gridley St., Bristol, and Rose Cristofaro @ 45 Melrose St., Bristol. Children: Christopher (b. 1923 Waterbury, CT), Esther (b. 1924 Waterbury, CT), Ruth (b. 1928 Hartford, CT), Mary (b. 1930 Bristol, CT), Joshua (b. 1933 Bristol, CT).
    • c/o Domiano Colella +1947-1963; (b. 1889 Italy). +1917-1920, he was employed as a laborer at the Waterbury Mfg. Co., and relocated to Bristol in 1921. Naturalized in 1947 while living at Hartford, arrived in 1907.
      • Damiano Colella +1947-1955; Domiano Colella 1956-1963;
    • c/o Carmello Ferraro 1964, 1969-1991 (b. 1891 Naro, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy - d. 1987 Bristol, CT). Son of Calogero Ferraro (b. 1880 Calascibetta, Enna, Sicilia, Italy - d. 1974 Naro, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy) & Giovanna Marrone Ferraro (b. 1881 Calascibetta, Italy - d. 1974 Italy). Wife: Grace Morgana Ferraro (b. 1904 Italy - d. 1965 Bristol, CT).
      • Carmelo Ferraro 1964; Caomelo Ferrone (sic?) 1966-1968; Carmelo Ferraro 1969-1991;
    • c/o D. Cristofero 1965;
    • Alfonso H. DiLiberto, Sr. 1992-1998 (b. 1918 Waterbury, CT - d. 2001 Farmington, Hartford, CT). Son of Dominick DiLiberto (b. 1875 Italy) & Concetta DiLorenza DeLorey DiLiberto (b. 1883 Italy). Wife: Calogera "Lena" F. Ferraro DiLiberto (b. 1919 Bristol, CT - d. 2006 Southington, CT), daughter of Carmello Ferraro & Grace Morgana Ferraro (see above).
    • Nick Dalfino 2014-present (b. 1927)
      • Nick was raised at Bristol Gospel Hall, then moved to Hartford Gospel Hall in the 1940's or 1950's, then the TW's, then returned to Hartford Gospel Hall, Bristol Bible Chapel, then started a meeting in his house, he is presently living at a nursing home.

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

  • Albany Avenue Gospel Hall +1941-1948+
    • @ 57 Albany Ave.
    • c/o Joseph DeLuca (?)
  • Broad Street Gospel Hall 1967-1984+; +1993-2013
    • 685 Broad St.
    • c/o Nicholas "Nick" Vendetta 1967-1982 (b. 1907 Hartford, CT - d. 1992 West Hartford, CT). Son of Francesco Venditto (b. 1865 Campobasso, Molise, Italy) & Marie Teresa DiBiase Venditto (b. 1872 Baranello, Campobasso, Italy). Wife: Rose Adeline Parker Vendetta (b. 1913 Hartford, CT - d. 1980 CT), daughter of Bert Elmer Parker (b. 1888 Elmore, Lamoille, VT - d. 1957 Hardwick, Caledonia, VT) & Bertha Maude Bailey Parker (b. 1893 VT).
    • Matthew J. Brescia 1984
    • Richard C. Sirois @ Wethersfield +1993-2012 (b. 1938)
    • Nick Dalfino +2007-2013 (b. 1927)
    • moved in 2014 to Bristol Gospel Hall.
  • Charter Oak Gospel Hall, CT (Italian OB) 1948-1996
    • @ 49 Charter Oak Ave.
    • c/o Nick Vendetta 1948+; Joseph DeLuca +1950-1954; Matthew J. Brescia 1985-1996;
    • became Newington Gospel Hall in 1996.
  • Farmington Avenue Gospel Hall +1933+, +1954-1966;
    • @ 464 Farmington Ave.
    • c/o Nick Vendetta +1954-1966
  • Park Street Gospel Hall +1927+
    • @ 435 Park St.
    • c/o Nathan Joseph Reager (b. 1873 N.Y. - d. 1933). Son of Leon Reager & Henriette Backer Reager (b. 1848 Germany). Wife: Sarah "Sadie" Jane Coote Reager (b. 1873 Wilbraham, MA - d. 1928 Hartford, CT). 1917 Clerk @ Underwood Typewriter. Children:
      • Ruth H. Reager (b. 1905 CT - d. 1969 Hartford, CT)
      • Alice F. Reager Andrews (b. 1905 CT - d. 1996 Norwich, New London, CT)
      • Gordon Nathan Reager (b. 1908 CT - d. 1996 Willow Grove, Montgomery, PA, buried @ Bryn Mawr).
  • Whitmore Street Gospel Hall +1933-1950+
    • @ 51 Whitmore St. +1933+; 53 Whitmore St. +1936-1950+
    • c/o Nick Vendetta +1936-1947; 1950;
  • Windsor Street Gospel Hall +1936+
    • @ 73 Windsor St.
    • c/o G. DeLuca
  • Hartford Gospel Hall, CT (OB) 1910's-1984; 1993-2012+
    • @ 435 Park St. +1927+; 51 Whitmore St. +1933+; 1st floor, 53 Whitmore St. +1936-1950+; 464 Farmington Ave. +1954-1966; 685 Broad St. 1967-1984; 1993-2012+;
    • c/o N.J. Reager @ 86 Seymour St. +1927+; Nick Vendetta @ Windsor +1936-1947; 1950-1982; Matthew J. Brescia 1984; Richard Sirois @ Wethersfield 1993-2012+; Nick Dalfino 2007-2012+
  • Newington Gospel Hall, CT (Italian OB) 1928-1996; (English OB) 1996-2022+
    • Hartford Italian Assembly Hall 1928-1996; Charter Oak Gospel Hall 1948-1996/1998
    • @ 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 1968-2022;
    • 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.
    • In 1944, in Hartford, Cecile Louise Marr was unwilling to take "unqualified oath of allegiance" to the U.S. as "a member of a religious section known as Plymouth Brethren", as did Damiano Colella, Mary Josephine De Santis,
  • Hartford preaching point (EB) +1901-1903+
    • c/o Phebe Ursula Plummer (b. 1838 ME - d. 1903 Hartford, CT). Phebe's husband was Oliver Ambrose Plummer (b. 1834 Sandwich, Carroll, N.H. - d. 1905 Chelsea, Suffolk, MA), a shoemaker. He was also a Civil War veteran who enlisted May of 1861, and discharged July of 1864, a member of Gen. Lander's G.A.R. Post #5 of Lynn, MA.
  • 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 1980-2022+
    • 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. 1990-2005; Vernon Teen Center, 375 Hartford Turnpike, Vernon 2006-2022+
    • c/o Donald R. Woods 1989-2001; Paul Ballasy @ Manchester then Fullington then Ellington 2002-2022+
  • 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 1977-1994; William A. Staddon @ Hebron 1995-2000; Richard Trombly 2001-2010+; Ted Kaulback +2012-2022+;


Newington

Southington

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

  • 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 +1975-2000; 36 N. Main St., Terryville 2001-present;
    • c/o William Batterton +1927-1968 (@ Waterville +1927-1956+, @ Terryville +1958-1968); Abram Vandenbush @ Terryville 1969-1972, 1975-1983; James C. Batterton @ Bethlehem 1984-2000; William G. Batterton @ Plymouth 2001-2009; Stephen Morin 2010-2022+; Donald Labbe 2010-2022+;
    • also see TGH's FB

Thomaston

Torrington

  • Torrington Gospel Hall, CT (Italian OB) +1927-2007?
    • @ 12 John St. +1936+; 22 Clark St. +1941-1954; 410 Migeon Ave. 1955-2007
    • c/o A. Rakyta +1927-1943+; Richard Irvine @ Scoville Hill +1947-1950+; David L. Swanney @ Great Barrington, MA +1954-1958; Victor Illuminati 1959-2007
    • 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;

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 2007-2022+
    • also see BGH's website

Greenwich

Newtown

  • Community Christian Fellowship, CT (OB) 1995-2022+
    • Newtown Christian Fellowship 2004-2005, 2007
    • @ Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St., Newtown 2007-2014+; Scalzo Group building, 2 Stony Hill Rd., Bethel +2016-present;
    • c/o Mark Ritter @ Sherman 2004-2022+; Rich Farrington 2007-2014+; Jack Mills +2016-2022+
    • 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
    • 45 Main St. 2007+
    • c/o Mark Ritter 2004-2005, 2007+

Norwalk

  • South Norwalk Gospel Chapel, CT (OB) 1952-1995
    • @ home of Cliff & Isabel Foley (19 Overbrook Lane, Darien (?)) 1952+; 50 Lexington Ave. 1962-1991+
    • founders: David Ward & Harold Harper
    • c/o Clifford P. Foley 1952-1997

Stamford

  • 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; 2002-2022+
    • 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 2001-2010; Joe DePino +2012-2018+; Gregg Bartholomew +2012-2022+;

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-present;
    • 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 2009-2022+

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) 1931-2020+
    • 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 2007-2020+
    • 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

  • 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 1987-1992; William L. Ewen 1993-2000; Walter T. Van Wyck @ Oxford 2001-2022+
    • also see WBC's website

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, E. Main St. +2001-2003; St. Margaret McTernen School, 565 Chase Pkwy. 2004; Maloney Magnet School, 233 S. Elm St. 2005-2007; Maloney Magnet School, 75 Bishop St. 2008; West Side Middle School, Chase Parkway 2009-2010+; 1 Dube Ln. +2012-present;
    • c/o Paul Forcucci 1997-2022+; John Monroe 2004-2022+
  • 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.
Retrieved from "https://brethrenpedia.org/index.php?title=Connecticut&oldid=15366"
Last edited on 20 December 2024, at 11:18