Black Rock Church sits on an 18-acre campus at 3685 Black Rock Turnpike in Fairfield, Connecticut, where five Sunday gatherings, a full week of programming for every age, and a deep network of local and global mission partnerships have grown from a small 1849 congregation into one of the largest churches in New England. Senior Pastor Josh Feay, who took the pulpit in November 2024 after decades on staff, sums up the church's heartbeat this way: "Our passion is to be a place where you can meet friends to do life with, find exciting opportunities to serve others, and discover God's great plan for your life."
From Black Rock Village to a Debt-Free Campus
The story begins long before the church was organized. In 1644, Thomas Wheeler from Concord, Massachusetts, and a group of pioneers settled at the head of Black Rock Harbor, giving the village its name from the dark rocks along the shore. For more than two centuries, families from this settlement made a three-mile journey across the Unquowa River (now Ash Creek) to worship at the First Church of Christ in Fairfield.
On February 14, 1849, Captain Thomas B. Bartram offered a lot on Ellsworth Street so a new church could be built. Within months, the first message was preached by William Jessup Jennings on August 5, 1849, from Hebrews 2:1-3, and the meeting house was dedicated on August 8, 1849. Rev. Jennings was formally installed as pastor on March 1, 1850, and the building quickly overflowed.
Rev. Henry Collins Woodruff led the church for 41 years beginning in 1881. His widow funded the construction of Woodruff Memorial Hall, dedicated April 29, 1923, which still houses middle school programming. Rev. Charles Haddon Spurgeon MacDowell, who pastored from 1922 to 1943, developed the character of the modern church: youth Bible studies, a Wednesday prayer service, a Sunday evening service, and a generation of new leaders. In January 1945 the church voted to sever its ties with the Congregational denomination, becoming independent.
On August 8, 1949, the church marked its centennial. Two years later, in November 1950, the steeple crashed into the sanctuary during a hurricane and was never replaced. In 1956, Rev. Stanley R. Allaby began a 41-year pastorate that saw rapid growth, a second Sunday service, and the church's first supported missionary sent to Nigeria in 1933. In June 1966 the congregation purchased the six-acre Black Rock Turnpike property, broke ground in April 1967, and dedicated its second building on March 31, 1968.
Dr. Stephen A. Treash became Senior Pastor in 1997. Under his leadership the church introduced contemporary worship, launched Sanctuary for young adults, planted or helped plant sister congregations (including Walnut Hill Community Church in Danbury in 1981 and a Stamford campus that ran for about ten years beginning in 2007), weathered a multi-year battle with the Town of Fairfield over expansion, and finally opened a 76,000-square-foot facility on June 15, 2014 after two years of meeting at Notre Dame High School and First Presbyterian Church. On November 27, 2022, the church tore up its mortgage and became debt free. In 2024 it celebrated 175 years of ministry and dedicated the renovated Growth Center on the Easton property, which now houses counseling services through a partnership with Renew Counseling.
Five Sunday Gatherings in Three Worship Styles
Black Rock runs five Sunday services in three distinct worship styles so that every generation and tradition can find a home.
The 8:30 AM Traditional Service meets in the Chapel and offers a familiar church experience: hymn selections accompanied by organ, piano, and orchestral instruments, a choir that enriches the hour with anthems and special music, and corporate readings of Scripture, confessions, and prayers. Pastors follow worship with sermons meant to be both deep and applicable.
At 9:00, 10:30, and 12:00 PM, three Contemporary Services meet in the Worship Center with a full band leading extended musical worship featuring songs by Hillsong United, Bethel Music, and other modern writers. Pastors present a sermon after worship that is meant to challenge and encourage listeners in pursuing Jesus.
At 5:00 PM, Sanctuary gathers for a service primarily aimed at young adults. A talented band, an engaging speaker, video, music, and art come together in a relaxed and vibrant setting, followed by community time in the cafe. While young adults are the focus, anyone who wants to experience God's presence is welcome.
All five services are livestreamed on YouTube at 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM, and the latest message is posted each week. Sermons are also available as a podcast on Spotify.
What to Expect on a First Visit
Visitors who turn on their hazard lights in the parking lot are greeted by a Parking Team that reserves special spots for new guests. Inside, the Connection Center on the right side of the lobby offers a free gift, answers to questions, and help connecting to ministries. A Connect Form, available in the lobby and online, helps the staff follow up personally.
The Prayer Team is available between and after services in the Prayer Room and is reachable by email throughout the week for anyone who wants prayer. The church's dress code is simply "come as you are." Families with young children are welcome: a Family Worship Room lets families with kids ages four and under worship together while watching a live broadcast of the Worship Center service, and an adjacent Mom's Nursing Room is available for nursing, changing, and caring for babies.
Kids, Students, and Special Needs
Black Rock Kids serves children from birth through Grade 5 at the 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, and 12:00 PM Sunday services. Age-specific classrooms include Kids Cove (birth through age 5), Uptown (K through 2nd grade), and The Barn (3rd through 5th grade), where kids encounter high-energy worship, games, videos, and small group time. A secure check-in system issues matching parent and child tags, every volunteer is screened and background-checked, and background-checked security monitors the hallways. On Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 PM, Kids Midweek offers Kidz J.A.M. (grades 1-2) and Elevate (grades 3-5) with games, worship, and Bible study from September through May. The summer brings Summer Adventure, a day camp for students entering grades 1 through 9, and a year-round family missions project called Black Rock Global Kids that this year partners with Chikondi to bring Bible-based episodes to children in the Middle East and Africa.
SHINE, the church's special needs ministry, supports individuals of varying abilities with individualized curriculum and one-on-one attention so they can participate in Sunday programs and connect with their peers. A Parent/Child Dedication service is offered for parents who want to publicly commit to raising their child in a Christian home.
Student Ministry runs two weekly programs during the school year. Fusion, for grades 9 through 12, meets on Tuesday nights from 7:00 to 9:00 PM with games, worship, teaching, and small groups. Thrive, for grades 6 through 8, meets on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8:15 PM. Deep End is a Sunday morning program in Woodruff Hall at 12:00 PM that gives middle schoolers a practical, monthly deep-dive into what being a Christian looks like. A Fall Retreat at Camp Hume each October, summer Fusion Nights, and other events round out the year.
Sanctuary, College, and Young Adults
Sanctuary, launched in 2000, is the church's long-running young adult ministry. The 5:00 PM Sunday service is followed by time in the cafe, and the community extends into small groups, summer events, and a week of summer nights that includes hundreds of college and young adult attendees. An Ignite college ministry and an internship program also engage college-age students in leadership.
Adults, Groups, and the Discipleship Journey
Black Rock's signature discipleship pathway is built around the framework of Believing in Jesus, Surrendering to His loving will, and Growing in a relationship with God. The on-ramp for new followers is Embark, a 7-week group offered on various days and times that walks through what it means to trust Jesus, follow Him, and grow. New to Faith groups then provide a conversational setting for exploring who God is, who Jesus is, and what the Christian life looks like. An Adult Baptism class meets before each baptism service; baptisms are held several times a year, including November 15, 2026, by full immersion, and are open to anyone who has trusted in Christ.
Adults can also join one of the church's many Community Groups, which meet weekly in homes across Fairfield, Shelton, Easton, Milford, Westport, Bridgeport, Trumbull, and online, with options for men, women, seniors, couples, families, and bilingual Portuguese and Spanish speakers. Bible study options include a women's Community Bible Study (CBS) on Wednesdays, a co-ed CBS on Tuesdays, Women's Bible Study of Romans on Fridays, and topic-based studies on prayer, creation, the Kingdom of God, and other themes. Seniors of the Rock meets for monthly luncheons and Bible study, while Tapestry singles hosts a Saturday prayer meeting for unmarried, divorced, and widowed adults.
Living Free Support Groups address harder realities: DivorceCare, Grieving with Hope (day and night options), Breaking Free from Anger (men), Anxious for Nothing (women), Steps to Freedom for Men and for Families, and others provide Christ-centered support for grief, divorce, anxiety, addiction, and family crisis. Marriage resources, support for singles, and the Marriage Masterclass conference equip couples and individuals for every stage of life.
Care, Counseling, and Prayer
Black Rock Cares coordinates practical help for the church family and the wider community. Calling and Visiting Teams stay in touch with the hospitalized, homebound, and those in rehabilitation. A Car Maintenance and Repairs team provides oil changes, safety checks, and emergency repairs. A Cards team sends personalized encouragement for births, graduations, grief, and illness. Pastoral counseling, professional counseling referrals, financial and debt counseling, funeral planning with a complimentary light reception, meal delivery for those recovering from illness or surgery, and transportation to medical and church appointments are all available.
Trained prayer team members pray with anyone who calls or visits, and weekly prayer gatherings meet across the week: Sunday between 8:00 AM and 1:30 PM in the Prayer Room, Wednesday 7:00 to 8:30 PM in the Chapel, Friday evening for women on the third Friday of each month, and Saturday at 6:00 AM for men. A Growth Center on the Easton property hosts professional Christian counseling through a partnership with Renew Counseling.
Community Engagement and Local Partners
The church's Community Engagement ministry organizes serving opportunities with local partners. Second Saturday is a church-wide service day each month. A Fifth Sunday Donation Drive gathers food, clothing, and supplies for local partners. A Disaster Response Team stands ready to mobilize when natural disasters strike.
Key partners include Bridgeport Rescue Mission, which serves men, women, and children facing hunger, homelessness, and addiction; HomeBridge Ventures, which provides trauma-informed healing, job training, and placement for the formerly incarcerated; Hopeline, a Christ-centered pregnancy center in need of knitters, patient support volunteers, and Spanish and Portuguese speakers; Pivot Ministries, a Bible-based in-residence recovery program for men; Operation Hope, which serves neighbors in Fairfield who are homeless or at risk; Urban Impact, which mentors and tutors at-risk youth in the PT Barnum public housing community of Bridgeport through programs like HOOPs, Kid Power, PrimeTime, Revolution, and XLR8; and the Partnership to End Human Trafficking (PEHT), which supports survivors through community outreach, residential recovery, and economic empowerment. A Foster Care Support Team comes alongside foster families within the church.
Global Missions
Black Rock has supported missionaries since 1933, when Harry Cox was sent to Nigeria under Sudan Interior Mission. Today, the Global Partners team sends short-term trips and supports a roster of global partners through a yearly Faith Promise Missions Commitment. In the most recent annual budget, $1.325 million was allocated to missions. Global Missions also works in Stamford, Easton, and other parts of Fairfield County.
What Black Rock Believes
The church is non-denominational and stands on a doctrinal statement that affirms the inerrancy of the Old and New Testament Scriptures, one God eternally existing in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the deity and virgin birth of Jesus Christ, the substitutionary atonement of Christ's death for our sins, the resurrection and ascension of Christ, the personal return of Christ, salvation by grace through faith, the new birth, the eternal security of the believer, and the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust. The mission statement is short: Love God, Love People, Serve Our World. The vision is to inspire hope and ignite faith in every person by connecting them to God through Jesus.
Staff and Leadership
Josh Feay, who grew up in West Africa and Indiana, majored in economics at Washington University in St. Louis, and earned a Master of Divinity at Yale before interning at Black Rock in 2001 and joining the staff in 2003, became Senior Pastor in November 2024. He is supported by an Executive Pastor, Kevin Butterfield, who leads the operational side of ministry, and by Jeremy Taylor, Executive Director and Missions Pastor. Mike Bulkley serves as Pastor of Group Life and Adult Ministries, and Paul Huebner and Andres Ayala lead middle school and high school ministry, respectively. Russ Joy pastors Sanctuary, the young adult community. Gaylord Lemke serves as Care Pastor and oversees the Living Free groups and Seniors of the Rock. Stephen Johnson and Young Song also serve on the pastoral team. Pastors Emeriti Steve Treash (Senior Pastor 1997 to 2024) and Larry Fullerton continue to play a part in the church's life.
Ministry directors lead Kids (Susan Beniston), Adult Discipleship (Caleb Hodson), Contemporary Worship and Arts (Becky Refvik), Global Partners (Dawn Brehm), Community Engagement (Carolyn DiLeo), and Guest Connections and Hospitality (Kerrie Butterfield). A board of elders and a deacon/deaconess team provide spiritual and practical oversight. The staff team now includes more than fifty people across ministry, operations, and creative arts.
Giving, Facilities, and the Resource Center
Giving is available online through Realm, in person during services, and by mail. The annual budget is published openly, with separate funds for General, Missions, Deacons, and Building. Realm Connect App makes mobile giving easy. The church also provides a Ramsey+ membership with Financial Peace University and EveryDollar to help people move toward financial freedom, and offers a free RightNow Media library of Bible studies for all ages.
The Resource Center, open Sundays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, sells books, Bibles, gifts, and church merchandise. The 18-acre facility, built and paid off between 2012 and 2022, includes the Worship Center, the Chapel, Woodruff Hall, dedicated kids and student spaces, a cafe, small group rooms, a Prayer Room, and a Family Worship Room with an adjacent Mom's Nursing Room. The Growth Center on the Easton property, dedicated in 2024, provides space primarily for counseling. The facility is available for weddings, funerals, and other events by request.
Reaching the Region with the Gospel
From its 1849 beginnings on a single lot on Ellsworth Street to today's 76,000-square-foot, debt-free building on Black Rock Turnpike, the church has held to a simple refrain: love God, love people, serve the world. Whether someone walks in for the first time, signs up for a community group, joins a short-term mission trip, or sits down for prayer, the aim is the same. As the staff puts it, full life is found in a growing relationship with God, and Black Rock exists to help people take the next step on that journey.