[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 184 (Tuesday, December 4, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2477]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORS CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT AS THEY 
                   CELEBRATE THEIR 300TH ANNIVERSARY

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                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 4, 2007

  Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise 
today to join the Reverend Robert Stuhlmann, members of the 
congregation, and the Stratford community in extending my sincere 
congratulations to Christ Episcopal Church as they celebrate its 300th 
Anniversary. This is a milestone for this community treasure and I am 
proud to help them celebrate.
  As we gather to celebrate this anniversary, we can also reflect on 
the inspiration the Christ Episcopal Church had in the creation of the 
United States of America. The Church holds a unique place not only in 
Connecticut's history, but in that of our nation as well. The first 
parishioners of this parish were actually forced to worship secretly in 
people's homes to avoid harassment by the then dominant 
Congregationalists who had fled to the New World to escape persecution 
by the Church of England. In fact, many of the twelve men who 
established the parish were jailed for their defiance of the General 
Court of Connecticut which deemed there could only be one church--and 
it was Congregational.
  Reverend Robert Stuhlmann, the 30th pastor of Christ Episcopal 
Church, has described the birth of the Anglican Church in the United 
States as mirroring that of our nation. Just eighty years after the 
formation of Christ Episcopal, the Church would play a direct role in 
the creation of our Constitution. Among the Connecticut delegation, the 
framers of the Constitution, was William Samuel Johnson, son of Samuel 
Johnson, the church's first resident priest. It is said that the 
Constitution took its final form based on the experiences of the Christ 
Episcopal parish as they encountered the opposition of an established 
religion in Connecticut. Samuel Johnson, who also served as the first 
president of Kings College, or what is known today as Columbia 
University, also left his mark on the Declaration of Independence. We 
all know the phrase ``life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness'' but 
what many may not know is that the phrase pursuit of happiness was one 
which Samuel Johnson frequently used in his preaching--believing that 
God desires humanity to be happy.
  Since its inception in 1707, Christ Episcopal Church has been an 
integral part of our community and has now grown to its current 223 
parish families like 100-year old Clint Brelsford who has derived 
happiness as a parishioner for 97 years. Our churches play a vital role 
in our communities--providing people with a place to turn to for 
comfort when they are most in need. By strengthening our bonds of 
faith, Christ Episcopal gives its members a place to find their 
spiritual center and to solidify and support their values. The members 
of this special parish have also given much to the Town of Stratford. 
Throughout the years, as their membership grew so did their commitment 
to the enrichment of our community.
  Christ Episcopal Church is so much more than simply a place of 
worship--it is the center of spiritual and community life for its 
members. For three hundred years, Christ Episcopal Church has been a 
fixture in Stratford. Through their ministry and outreach efforts, they 
have left an indelible mark on our community and continue to enrich the 
lives of others. I am proud to stand today and extend my best wishes to 
them as they mark this milestone in their history. Happy 300th 
Anniversary!

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