By Steven R. Mullins
Special to the Voice
The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit celebrated its 300th Anniversary on Memorial Day weekend with an open house on Saturday, May 27 and a festive pontifical Mass on Pentecost Sunday, May 28, with the Rt. Rev. Laura Ahrens, Bishop Suffragan of Connecticut as principal celebrant.
Founded in 1723 as Christ Church by the Reverend Samuel Johnson, it is Connecticut’s second oldest Episcopalian parish. Over the decades and centuries, the parish has been instrumental in founding other parishes and missions throughout Connecticut and is known as the “Mother Church of Central Connecticut.”
In her homily, Ahrens exclaimed “Happy Birthday, Holy Spirit!” She continued, “Three hundred years ago, before the American Revolution, Christians gathered at Christ Church to worship the Lord and spread the good news of Jesus Christ to the people of West Haven and beyond.” Ahrens also praised the parish for its numerous outreach ministries and for continuing to open its facilities to several twelve step recovery groups and Scouting.
At the Saturday open house, nearly 100 visitors toured exhibits and viewed artifacts and documents from as far back as the founding of the congregation as a parish in the Church of England. Among the relics was a pewter chalice and paten set dating back to 1744, which was guarded by historian emeritus Jane Dexter.
Among the tourists were the family of the late Rev. Jervis Zimmerman, who served as the parish Rector in the 1950’s and 60’s.
In 2006, Christ Church merged with St. John’s by the Sea Episcopal Church on Ocean Avenue and formed a new parish under the name Church of the Holy Spirit.