Mystic church wraps up 250th anniversary celebrations with gala
For some members, history holds a deeply personal connection
Mystic — This weekend concluded the yearlong celebration of the Union Baptist Church’s 250th anniversary with a gala at the Mystic Aquarium on Saturday night.
But for anniversary committee member Sue Eastman, the research has a more personal connection.
“My great-great-grandfather, Silas Beebe, was one of those that helped found the church,” she said. “And my mother and father met, or started dating, when they were involved in a young adult group here, and they were
The Union Baptist Church, which is now located on High Street, started in 1765 as the Second Baptist Church in the Fort Hill section of Groton.
married here in 1932.”
The Union Baptist Church, which is now located on High Street, started in 1765 as the Second Baptist Church in the Fort Hill section of Groton.
Third Baptist Church later was founded in 1831 to accommodate the growing population in the area, and by 1861, both congregations decided to merge into a single church.
The physical buildings were moved around and fused together to become Union Baptist Church in 1862 — the Second is the front-facing portion of the church, and the Third is the rear.
The 150th anniversary of Union was celebrated in 2012, and this year is the 250th anniversary of the original church’s founding.
To commemorate the anniversary of that first fellowship in Fort Hill, the church kicked off the celebration in January with a potluck. A music fundraiser was held in May, and last month a speaker was invited to talk about the history of the church.
Eastman said she and other members put together a variety of display boards to showcase old church memorabilia such as photos, record books and programs from previous anniversaries and special services held by the church.
Through the research she conducted, Eastman found several relatives of fellow parishioners as well as her own family who were heavily involved in the church throughout its history. A display board featuring recreational activities at the church included a photo of Violet Wheeler, who was one of her grandmothers and the church’s organist at
“It was just part of my heritage that kept me here. I really enjoy being a part of it and I want to preserve our church.” SUE EASTMAN, ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE MEMBER
the time.
“It was just part of my heritage that kept me here,” she said. “I really enjoy being a part of it and I want to preserve our church.”
The church also released the second edition of its history book for the anniversary.
“The Union Baptist Church of Mystic, Connecticut: Its Story” was first published in 1987 and was updated this year to include events and other information that have happened since.
Through its goal to help others and be a part of the Mystic community, Union Baptist Church is heavily involved with Mystic Area Shelter and Hospitality, which helps provide emergency housing for the homeless, and the church has housed Happy Time Nursery School since 1967.
Members from MASH, Mystic River Homes and other community organizations supported by the church also were invited to Saturday's gala.
The year of celebration concluded with the gala and a service Sunday morning, when the church received an anniversary certificate from the American Baptist Churches of Connecticut headquarters in Hartford.