Community Corner

St. Paul's Episcopal Church 200th Anniversary

Attention fans of Connecticut history!

Attention fans of Connecticut history! You are invited to...

200th Celebration of Historic on the Huntington Green & Firehouse Chili Cook-Off!

On Saturday Oct 6th, from noon to 40 p.m., St. Paul’s Episcopal Church invites you to its weekend celebration of the oldest church building in Shelton. For 200 years parish members have worshipped there, on the Green in Huntington Center. 

The events, open to the public, begin at noon with a chili cook-off in the parish hall. Local firehouses will be among the competitors offering a wide sampling of chili dishes for only $5.

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Following the cook-off, history lovers can tour the Old Church, which was built in 1812 after the original building burned to the ground. Tour guides will talk about the rich history of this church, the slave gallery in the balcony and about Federal-style features of this architectural gem.

In another highlight of the celebration, costumed guides will lead visitors through the adjacent cemetery which has been thoroughly documented by the DAR. You can hear about the lives of the Colonial residents, and Revolutionary and Civil War veterans buried in this oldest of graveyards. Tour leaders will talk about how the town of Huntington began and how the founding families of Huntington, buried here, changed farmland into Huntington Center.

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The celebration continues across the street at the Chapel with displays of artifacts, indoor activities for elementary school children and a tour of the Christian Counseling Center first established by St. Paul’s parish in 1981.

In cooperation with the , Saturday’s schedule has been planned so visitors might have time to attend the Civil War Reenactment by Company F, 14th Conn. Volunteer Infantry on the grounds of the Historical Society, which is just up the street on Ripton Road. A special guest there will be--Abe Lincoln himself!

We hope you will add this early autumn celebration to your calendar. St. Paul's is easily accessible by car from Fairfield, Litchfield and New Haven Counties. Come hear the church history, enjoy the chili and follow a historical path through the oldest cemetery in the area.

Contact number:  203-929-1722


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