The Congregational Church in Killingworth, Neighbor

On May 8, 1735, the town of Killingworth was divided into two Ecclesiastical Societies by an act of the Connecticut General Assembly. The Ecclesiastical Society in New England was the extension of religious privileges in the formation of a new church congregation resulting from the division of the town. The society then assumed responsibility for the religious affairs, schools and cemeteries that the town had previously exercised. The southern society resulting from the division is now Clinton, while the northern society, then North Killingworth, became present-day Killingworth. 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. 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.