A Brief Edition of an Extraordinary History

We were organized as the Third Congregational Society on July 21, 1860. The first public service was held on September 9, and their Rev. George Safford was installed as Pastor on December 9, 1860.

Forty-five of the original 52 members came from first Calvinist Congregational Church. Among them were the president and faculty of the University of Vermont; three participants in the Underground Railroad; the principal of the Burlington Female Seminary; and editors at the Burlington Free Press. They were free thinkers and activists brought together by the issues of slavery and women's rights.

Construction of the church building began in the spring of 1863 on land given by Mrs. Eliza Buell and her brother Henry. Services were held in a chapel in the basement beginning on January 15, 1865. The building was dedicated on February 7, 1866. In 1874 the bylaws were changed to increase the number of deacons from three to six and to specify that henceforth half of the number of deacons would be women. The name of the church was formally changed in 1888 to the College Street Congregational Church.

Community service and social justice have been ongoing ministries of the church. Members of the church founded a home for Civil War orphans (Baird Center), a home for unwed mothers (Lund Center), a home for elderly women (Converse Home), the Sara Holbrook Center, and Meals on Wheels.

In 1931 discussions were held regarding a possible merger among College Street Church, the Unitarian Church and First Congregational Church. A vote taken at a joint meeting with the Unitarian Society resulted in a tie, after which it was decided to withdraw from any further discussion on merger with either Church. The College Street Congregational Church became part of the United Church of Christ in 1961.

In 1985, serious consideration was again given to the future of the church. After a number of meetings involving all members, it was again decided that the church had a unique identity worth preserving. With renewed spirit and commitment, the church set out to revitalize its Christian fellowship. Enthusiastic support of several major fund drives made possible repairs and restoration of the building.

College Street Church’s 14th pastor, the Rev. David D. Wright, arrived in November 1992, bringing with him a contagious joy and enthusiasm for Christian ministry that have enabled the congregation to move forward in new directions. In 1994, the church declared itself an Open and Affirming church with the statement:

College Street Congregational Church hereby reaffirms its openness to people of faith or in search of faith, without regard to age, sex, economic condition, disability or sexual orientation. We invite all people to share in the worship, life, leadership and employment opportunities of the church.

The ordination of three women as United Church of Christ ministers demonstrates our active support of women's spiritual leadership. College Street took the Revs. Diana Scholl, Peggy Tooker and Ruth Bradshaw in care during their studies. Deborah Roy, who is currently in seminary, is also in care with the church. We also called The Rev. Judith Farrell to ordained ministry as our Minister of Education, enabling her to be ordained at her home church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

In recent years, the church has seen a substantial growth in membership, expanded Church School and music programs, and an active Youth Group.

College Street Church today is alive with God’s gifts and strong in the hope that God will lead us in the 21st century to continue making a difference in the community and in the lives of individuals.