Cheshire Lutheran Church has stood on West Main Street in Cheshire, Connecticut since the early 1960s, known locally as CLC and recognized for its liturgical worship, its long-running Little Cherubs Christian Preschool, and a community calendar that runs from Sunday morning Bible study to October apple pie workshops. Members describe the congregation as centered in worship, fellowship, witness, and service, and visitors driving past the building can see the recently dedicated bell tower and the well-tended Memorial Garden and Columbarium on the grounds.
Worship on Sunday Mornings
CLC holds Divine Services in a liturgical style that includes hymns, Bible readings, prayer, and a sermon. The regular schedule through fall, winter, and spring includes an 8:00 AM service and a 10:30 AM service, with Sunday School and Bible Study for all ages meeting between them at 9:20 to 10:20 AM. During the summer, the schedule shifts to a single 9:00 AM service, with no Sunday School or Bible Study during that hour.
Holy Communion is celebrated on the first, third, and fifth Sundays of the month for all who are baptized, and visitors who are members of other LCMS congregations are welcome to commune as well. The early service is livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel, with a recording available afterward, and a nursery is available during the services that live-streams the Divine Service so parents can stay connected to the liturgy even with little ones.
Pastor Rowold's notes accompanying each week's service explain that the livestream is free, available on any device, and does not require a YouTube subscription to watch. Bulletins, full orders of service, and kids' pages are posted as PDFs alongside the video so worshipers at home can follow along. Sermon videos going back to 2025 are also archived on YouTube, with titles such as "Repent," "Close to Jesus," and "Idolatry and Greed."
A Congregation of the Missouri Synod
Cheshire Lutheran Church is a member congregation of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. Its stated mission is rooted in that identity: "Cheshire Evangelical Lutheran Church, a congregation of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, called by Jesus Christ to go to all peoples everywhere and make them disciples, is a community that proclaims the Gospel as it reaches out to the people." The mission statement goes on to say that, "Empowered by the grace received through the Word and Sacraments offered in our worship life, we are committed to nurturing the faith and service of our members."
The congregation is pastored by the Rev. Dr. David Rowold, who came to CLC with his family in early 2018 after almost fifteen years as pastor of Saint John's Lutheran Church in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Pastor Rowold holds a Doctorate in Liturgical Studies from Drew University, a Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Concordia College in Bronxville, New York. A Connecticut native and graduate of Hamden High School, he brings a particular interest in the church's liturgical life, which is visible in the careful way bulletins, orders of service, and kids' pages are produced each week.
Music and Choir Director Martha Medford has led the music program at CLC since 2008. Originally from Ohio, Medford began piano and voice training at the age of six, added organ instruction in high school, and went on to study at Capital University in Columbus and the University of Texas in Austin. Her work has spanned Episcopal, Congregational, and Catholic settings, and she directs the choirs and accompanies guest instrumentalists at CLC, as seen in a regular pattern of recorded special music on the church's YouTube channel - flute solos, saxophone performances, vocal rounds, and choral anthems.
From the Grange Hall to the Bell Tower
Cheshire Lutheran Church began on December 9, 1956, when a small group of Christians gathered at the Cheshire Grange Hall for the first worship service. Within ten months, those charter members had committed to purchasing the land on West Main Street where the church now stands. Construction began in 1960, and the new building was dedicated on January 29, 1961.
As the congregation grew, so did the need for expanded facilities. In 1978, a building project added classrooms, church offices, and a spacious fellowship hall to support the growing ministry of CLC. A Facilities Planning Committee formed in 2001 led to an expansion and renovation project approved in 2005. The congregation broke ground in June 2007 and dedicated the expanded and updated facilities in August 2007, a project that included a new wing to house Little Cherubs Christian Preschool, updated classrooms and offices, improved heating and cooling, new technology upgrades, and expanded meeting spaces.
In 2006, the church marked its 50th anniversary and adopted a hymn titled "God's Redeemed, Beloved and Holy," written by Pastor Steve Starke, to honor both the past and the call to continue walking together in faith and love. The church has continued to add features over the years, including the Memorial Garden and Columbarium dedicated on July 24, 2016, and the recent Bell Tower, which was blessed in a special ceremony in late September. The congregation's own summary of its story ends with a phrase that captures its outlook: "Graced by the Past … Called for the Future."
Little Cherubs Christian Preschool
Housed in a dedicated wing of the church, Little Cherubs Christian Preschool has served the Cheshire community since September 1997. The preschool welcomes all children and does not discriminate according to race, creed, or color. The 1,200-square-foot facility opens onto a two-to-five-acre play yard, and the program operates with a low student-to-teacher ratio, an open-door policy for parents, and a curriculum aligned with the Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards.
The preschool offers two programs. The three-year-old class meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM to 1 PM, with a tuition rate of $3,225. The Pre-K class for four- and five-year-olds meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 AM to 2 PM, with a tuition rate of $5,858.75. A non-refundable $100 registration fee applies, with a 50 percent discount for additional children from the same family. Tuition can be paid online through the church's giving portal, with a 3 percent processing fee added for credit or debit card payments.
The teaching team is led by Director JoAnn Holstein, Lead Teacher Tracy Lennon, and Assistant Teachers Fiona Fernandes, Carrie Beckley, and Barbara (Bobbi) Incitti. Parents regularly describe the program as "a home away from home," praising the play-based curriculum, the daily feedback sheets, the kindergarten readiness focus, and the way teachers get to know the whole family. The preschool is state-licensed and is among CLC's most visible outreach ministries, drawing children from Cheshire and the surrounding communities.
Christian Education for Every Age
Between the Sunday morning services during the school year, the Education Hour offers a full program of Christian formation. Sunday School classes run from toddler age through high school, with everyone gathering at the start of the hour for songs, prayer, and an introduction to the day's lesson before breaking into groups by age and grade. A Christmas pageant is a highlight of the Sunday School year, with a full cast of children performing each December.
Adults have their own options during the same hour. The Sunday morning Bible class is topical in nature, while a Wednesday afternoon class takes an in-depth look at one book of the Bible at a time, both led by the pastor. During Lent, the Wednesday afternoon class pauses and is replaced by an evening study tied to the church's Wednesday night Soup and Salad Supper.
First Communion and Confirmation classes are held regularly for students in grades seven and eight, and Adult Information classes are available for anyone age 18 and older who wants to learn more about the Lutheran faith. Older youth in grades seven through twelve are invited to join the church's Youth Group, which builds community through service projects, movie and game nights, outings, and participation in National Youth Gatherings.
Vacation Bible School
Each summer, CLC opens its doors to the wider community with a free Vacation Bible School. The program welcomes children from age four through the completion of sixth grade, with junior high and high school students serving as youth volunteers. Each five-day program includes a daily Bible lesson, songs, games, snacks, crafts, and hands-on science experiments, and runs from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM with drop-off beginning at 8:45 AM. The program is held in the air-conditioned church and on the outdoor lawn area.
Recent VBS themes have included "Rainforest Falls," "True North" (with the tagline "Trust Jesus in a Wild World"), "Scuba," "Stellar," "Monumental," "Rocky Railroad," "Roar," "Shipwrecked," "Maker Fun Factory," "Cave Quest," "Everest," and "Weird Animals." The events have proven so popular that registration has repeatedly closed early, and the church has maintained wait lists in case of cancellations. A free-will collection of food, school supplies, or cash donations is gathered each year for families and children in need.
Music at the Heart of Worship
Music is woven through the life of the congregation. The choirs, led by Martha Medford on organ and piano, sing regularly at Sunday services, and the church regularly welcomes guest instrumentalists and soloists who share their gifts during worship. Recent recorded offerings have included a flute solo of "On Eagle's Wings" by Mike and Bet Frost, a saxophone performance of the Adagio from Mozart's Clarinet Concerto by Frank Vasi, a flute solo by Ruth Del Vecchio, and the Christian round "Like as a Father" performed by three vocalists. An ensemble singing group has also been part of the music ministry in past years.
The music blends classic and modern hymns, with the congregation, choir, and occasional guest musicians all taking part. The result is a mix of modern and classic hymns, set within the structure of the liturgical Divine Service.
Cheshire Lutheran Church Women
The Cheshire Lutheran Church Women, or CLCW, is an inclusive ministry that encompasses all women members of the congregation, with men and children joining in many of its activities. The CLCW gives women a chance to express their Christian faith through fellowship, service, and charitable giving.
Three signature CLCW events have become fixtures on the church calendar. Ladies' Night Out is a springtime evening of fellowship with a catered dinner in the fellowship hall, open to all women of the congregation. The Apple Pie Workshop each October brings the congregation together in the church kitchen to make and sell pies, raising funds for charitable causes. Greeting cards are sold for $1.00 each from a stand outside the church office, with proceeds supporting charitable efforts; the CLCW also sends birthday and get-well cards to youth and shut-ins.
Funds raised by the CLCW support a range of partner organizations, including AbleLight (formerly Bethesda Lutheran Communities), Hope Pregnancy Center, the Cheshire Community Food Pantry, Quilts of Valor, Safe Haven of Waterbury, and the CLC Youth Group.
Love Our Neighbor: Local and Global Outreach
CLC's Social Welfare Ministry, called Love Our Neighbor, channels the congregation's gifts and Thrivent Grants into both local and global charitable efforts. Locally, the church provides monthly food donations to the Cheshire Community Food Pantry, "adopts a shelf" to keep it stocked year-round, and assembles Thanksgiving food baskets for families in need. The congregation has long supported Cheshire Interfaith Housing and other town-wide food drives.
Globally, the church partners with Orphan Grain Train, preparing and sending back-to-school kits to meet urgent needs both locally and worldwide. The congregation also contributes tens of thousands of dollars annually to national and international ministries. Within the life of the church, members provide rides, meals, and other practical support to fellow members who may need extra help, and as needs change the ministry adapts to serve with purpose and compassion.
The Memorial Garden and Columbarium
Located on the church grounds, the Memorial Garden and Columbarium is a place to remember and honor those who have been inurned and those memorialized with plaques. Dedicated on July 24, 2016, it offers an alternative to a traditional cemetery and a place for the inurnment of ashes, with many families finding comfort in knowing that eternal rest is close to the church home.
Eligibility for inurnment is determined by the pastoral staff and includes current and former members of Cheshire Lutheran Church, ordained ministers who have served as pastor of CLC, current and former employees, and immediate family members of anyone eligible for inurnment. Rostered LCMS clergy and commissioned church workers are also eligible, as are individuals recommended by the pastoral staff and approved by the chair of the Columbarium Committee. The committee is currently made up of members including Vicki DePaolo, Pat DiDomizio, Margie Mertz, Randy Raddatz, Ed Schweizer, Beth Soulier, Bill Soulier, and Tim Weiland, and a set of bylaws, subscription forms, plaque applications, and guidelines is available for download.
Visiting Cheshire Lutheran Church
CLC welcomes first-time visitors with open arms. There is no dress code at Cheshire Lutheran Church, and worshipers can be seen in everything from jeans and a T-shirt to business casual. Ushers greet visitors at the sanctuary door, hand out a bulletin, and are happy to answer questions. Parking is available right near the church entrance, with an overflow lot for busier days.
Those planning a first visit can fill out a Welcome Request Form online so that members of the welcome team can be ready to meet them, answer questions, and offer a welcome bag. A typical service lasts about an hour. The church office is open during the week and can be reached at (203) 272-5106, with a separate number, (203) 272-1150, for the Little Cherubs Preschool office. The mailing address is P.O. Box 157, Cheshire, CT 06410, and the church is located at 660 West Main Street, Cheshire, CT 06410. Online giving is available through a secure portal, and the church calendar can be subscribed to in Google Calendar or Microsoft Outlook for those who want church events integrated into their personal schedule.