[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17445]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    COMMEMORATING THE TRICENTENNIAL OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN 
                               WATERFORD

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                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2010

  Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate a very 
special occasion for the First Baptist Church of Waterford. Next month 
the Church will be celebrating its tricentennial--300 years in 
Connecticut and a rich history that predates our nation.
  In 1710, the First Baptist Church of Waterford was founded by members 
who withdrew from the First Baptist Church of Groton to create a new 
church on the western side of the Thames River. They built a meeting 
house on Pepperbox Hill, which they shared with another congregation. 
Some services in these early years were held at the homes of the 
church's members. The third and current sanctuary, the Jordan 
Meetinghouse, was built on Rope Ferry Road in 1848. Today, the First 
Baptist Church of Waterford is the second oldest Baptist church in the 
State of Connecticut.
  It shares a spectacular history with the town--having even served as 
the seat of its government. It was once a recruiting station for the 
Civil War. More than anything else, however, the church's 300 hundred 
years are defined by its deep involvement and generous contributions to 
the community around it. Today, the church serves people in the 
Waterford area by providing assistance from food to medicine to heating 
oil.
  The First Baptist Church of Waterford is an historic and treasured 
institution that has persevered, survived attacks by English forces 
during the Revolutionary War, given our nation statesman, soldiers and 
helped those in need. Three hundred years is a truly remarkable 
achievement. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the First 
Baptist Church of Waterford on this milestone and wishing the church 
well for many years to come.

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