Kids & Family

Celebrating Greenwich Founder's Day

The First Congregational Church — whose founding is tied to the founding of the Town of Greenwich — celebrated the annual Founder's Day.


The First Congregational Church of Greenwich, the oldest church in town, celebrated the 374th Greenwich Founders Day on Sunday with a special program.

The official date of Greenwich Founders Day is July 18 each year, but First Church historically honors the day on the Sunday closest to that date. 

Back in 1640, English settlers landed on the beach down where Tod’s Point is now located and “purchased” the land from the Indians for 25 red coats and trinkets. The church celebrated its own founding 25 years later in May 1665,  which is the date the church received its charter from the state of Connecticut. 

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1665 was also the same year that Greenwich became a separate town from Stamford.  During Colonial days there was no separation of church and state, so there could only be a town if there was also a church there. So the founding of the town of Greenwich and the church are very closely tied. 

Next year marks the 375th Greenwich Founders Day and the 350th anniversary of the church.

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During Sunday's service, First Selectman Peter Tesei read the Founders Day Proclamation and Interim Senior Pastor John Collins performed a John Denver piece as part of his sermon. Chairman of the Greenwich Historical Society Board of Directors Davidde Strackbein, who also is heading the Greenwich 375th Annivesary Committee, also attended. 

A musical program followed the service, that featured performances by the church’s Summer Choir, a clarinet solo by youth Peter Russell, a choral solo by choir member Linnea Conley. During the coffee hour held in the church’s Memory Garden, visitors were able to view a display of artifacts from the church’s history, hosted by the First Church Historical Committee.

The church is planning a full schedule of events to commemorate its founding, for later this year and next year.


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