

The United Church of Christ is a Protestant denomination that traces its roots to four church bodies: Congregational, Reformed, Christian and Evangelical. In 1957 the UCC came into being when the previously joined Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Church formed a union, fulfilling the great prayer of Christ "that they may all be one." In 2007, the United Church of Christ is celebrating fifty years of ministry in the United States and all around the world.
The UCC is a free church, which believes in the freedom of the Gospel. Accordingly, no one dictates to the local church about the decisions it makes. It is also a responsible church where congregations covenant together out of a responsibility to God and to one another. The United Church of Christ is one of the most diverse Christian churches in the United States, affirming the belief that Christians do not need to always agree in order to live together, worship together, covenant together, and come to God's table together.
The UCC recognizes two sacraments; Baptism, and the Lord's Supper, or Holy Communion.
Today's United Church of Christ strives to tie its historic faith to today's concerns in God's ever changing world. The UCC lives out its faith through the worship of God experienced in Christ and in the Spirit. It lives out its mission through welcoming all people regardless of differences, through working for peace and justice in society and the world, and through ecumenical and interfaith relationships.

The new society built its first meetinghouse in 1736, and settled its first pastor two years later. A new meetinghouse replaced the first in 1743; both were located near the intersection of the present Routes 80 and 81. The third (and present) meetinghouse was raised in 1817 and completed in 1820. The church as it was in 1895 is pictured here. Note the carriage sheds behind and to the left of the church, and the Agricultural Hall (now the Old Town Hall) to the right.
In 1818, the church and state were separated by law. The Ecclesiastical Society and the Congregational Church were united into one organization and incorporated under Connecticut statutes in 1891. The Parish Hall was built onto the back of the church building in 1959, and the Old Town Hall building was purchased in 1966.
In 1961, the Congregational Church in Killingworth voted to become a member of the United Church of Christ.

The Parsonage:
The federal style Parsonage, located next door to the church building, was built in 1866 to serve as a home to the pastors of the church and their families. The interior of this four bedroom, two bath home was most recently updated in late 2005.
The federal style Parsonage, located next door to the church building, was built in 1866 to serve as a home to the pastors of the church and their families. The interior of this four bedroom, two bath home was most recently updated in late 2005.




