A Church at the Heart of Old Saybrook
Grace Episcopal Church sits on the west side of Main Street in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, just north of the Old Boston Post Road and a short walk from the town green, the public library, and the local schools. The Gothic Revival stone building, with its pale pink granite name sign and shaded Memorial Garden, is one of the older landmarks along the central shoreline where the Connecticut River meets Long Island Sound. Former Episcopal Bishop Ian Douglas once described the parish as both a "beacon of hospitality" and a "beehive of missions," a characterization the congregation still embraces.
Grace Church describes itself as "a small, thriving, diverse intergenerational group of individuals, couples, families, children and elders, joined in the common thread of our belief in our Lord Jesus Christ." Members and visitors alike describe the parish as friendly and welcoming, with a strong emphasis on prayer, healing, and restoration, and on carrying the Christian life beyond the sanctuary walls into the wider community of Old Saybrook and beyond.
From a Schoolhouse in 1825 to a Gothic Sanctuary in 1872
Grace Church traces its origins to August 1825, when the Reverend Peter G. Clarke of Essex traveled down to Saybrook to hold Episcopal services for twelve members in a private residence. Connecticut is the oldest diocese in the Episcopal Church, and Grace is the oldest and only early nineteenth-century non-Congregational church that remains in Old Saybrook. After five years of worship in the Center Schoolhouse, the growing congregation voted in May 1830 to organize under the name Grace Church and build its own place of worship.
The founders included pillars of the early Saybrook community: Richard Hart, William Lynde, Richard Chalker, Richard Pratt, Augustus Chalker, William Willard, Ira Bushnell, and William Clark. Major Richard Hart and his wife donated land on the west side of Main Street, and Richard and Augustus Chalker did the construction work. Under the leadership of the first rector, the Reverend Ashbel Steele, a modest white wooden church rose on the lot. That little church served the parish for several decades before being sold in the early 1870s, rolled next door, and converted over time into stores, a post office, and a meeting hall; the building still stands along the Old Boston Post Road and today houses Dance Dynamics and two apartments.
By the early 1870s the congregation had outgrown its first home. The present English Gothic style church was designed by the Reverend Jesse Heald and built of stone from the town quarry, now the site of the Staples office store. The building was consecrated on October 24, 1872, by the Reverend John Williams, with 130 communicants present. Heald is also said to have provided the design for the rectory, reportedly modeled on a rectory in England; the original rectory was probably lost to fire and replaced by the present one in the early 1890s.
The Hart family was a long-running benefactor. Major Richard and Elizabeth Hart contributed the land, a pipe organ that was the first of its kind in the area, and a large stained-glass window over the entrance in their memory. Elisha Hart provided lamps for the pulpit; Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Hart donated the communion table and lamps; and Bibles and prayer books came from Mrs. Richard Hart. In 1895 the women of the church organized the Grace Church Guild, which built the original parish house by 1897 before disbanding. That parish house was replaced in 1967 by a new one named for the Reverend Edward R. Merrill, rector from 1948 to 1969.
Perhaps the most eye-catching feature outside the building today is the two-ton, seven-foot pale pink granite name sign, a gift from parishioner Gerry Drechsler. The block was originally part of the foundation of the Amtrak bridge over Clinton's Liberty Street, cut from the Stony Creek quarry, and was cleaned, sandblasted, engraved, and installed on October 1, 1997. A Memorial Garden on the north side of the sanctuary, shaded by old maples and centered on a granite Celtic cross, holds the ashes of parishioners and their families.
Two Sunday Services and a Wednesday Healing Hour
Worship at Grace follows the traditional Episcopal liturgy. On Sunday mornings, someone from the parish greets arrivals at the door for both the 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM services. People gather in the vestibule, enjoying conversation until the bells chime for the Call to Worship.
The 8:00 AM Holy Eucharist, Rite I, is described by the parish as conservative, quiet, and very contemplative, with no music. The 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist, Rite II, begins with an organ prelude and is filled with music. The 10:00 AM service is also livestreamed most Sundays on Facebook and YouTube, and bulletins are posted online. Nursery and Sunday School are available during the 10:00 AM service except on the first Sunday of the month.
A Wednesday Healing Service is offered once a month at 10:00 AM on the first Wednesday of the month, from September through May.
The parish provides assisted listening devices for those who need them, and pastoral and Eucharistic visits, flower delivery, and occasional rides to services for elder, special-needs, and homebound parishioners.
Beliefs and the Anglican Tradition
Grace Church is a Christian church in the Anglican tradition with historic roots in the Church of England. The congregation holds to the authority of the Old and New Testaments and to basic beliefs summarized in the historic creeds of the Christian Church. It follows the biblical plan for church order, with spiritual oversight provided by bishops and local leadership shared among lay people, priests, and deacons. The parish celebrates the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion in obedience to the teaching of Jesus Christ, and welcomes worshippers from all denominations, as well as those who are seeking a deeper relationship with God.
The church's mission statement reads: "We are a community of faith, rooted in Jesus Christ and led by the Holy Spirit, following God's call to feed the hungry in both body and spirit. Our intention is to know Jesus and to make Him known." Grace is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut.
The Rector and Clergy Team
The parish is led by The Very Reverend Charles "Charlie" Hamill, Rector. He is supported by three Priest Associates: The Reverend Dr. Charles Hoffman, The Reverend Canon Dr. Ellendale Hoffman, and The Reverend Dr. William Veinot. Together with lay leaders, they preach, preside at the Eucharist, conduct baptisms, weddings, and funerals, lead Bible studies, and visit the homebound.
Bethany Hamill serves as Director of Music, leading the choir and playing organ and piano. Kate McKinney is Director of Digital Communications, coordinating the livestream ministry, social media, sermon archives, and bulletin publication. Sherry Schiavone is the sexton.
Lay leadership includes Betty Salldin (Altar Guild Director), Karen Mulvihill (Nursery Coordinator), Cal Baker (Head Usher), JoAnn Eaccarino (Hospitality Coordinator), Devin Carney (Head Lector), Jeannette Barone (GriefShare Coordinator), and Kyle Trask-Kuchta (Tech Team Coordinator). The Vestry includes Senior Warden Jason Howey, Junior Warden Matt Stosse, Treasurer Dave Condren, and Clerk Julie Peace, alongside members Sue Board, Ryan Earley, Tom Fuller, Michelle Kapp, Peter Knox, and Mary Matthews. Jacquelyn Mitchell and Carly Trask-Kuchta serve as Diocesan Delegates.
Music That Fills the Sanctuary
Music is at the heart of the 10:00 AM service. Director Bethany Hamill leads a choir of ensemble and solo singers, many of whom also play instruments, supporting worship each Sunday and adding extra voice for holy days and special productions. The pipe organ at the front of the church, donated in the nineteenth century by the Hart family, was the first of its kind in the area and continues to anchor the music program.
The Music Ministry rehearses on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 PM. The parish also hosts the Con Brio Choral Group, which rehearses on Mondays at 6:30 PM.
Children, Youth, and the Teaching Garden
Children are welcome at Grace. During the 10:00 AM service, parents may bring their children to the Nursery, where they play and explore age-appropriate scriptural ideas in a small group setting with reading, discussion, arts and crafts, and outdoor time in nice weather. Children rejoin their families in time for the offering of Communion. Sunday School is available during the 10:00 AM service during the academic year, except on the first Sunday of the month. Youth also serve as acolytes, take part in Advent candle-lighting, and contribute to musical productions and skits throughout the year.
In 2022, the parish broke ground on a Teaching Garden, an Eagle Scout project led by a member of Boy Scout Troop 51, which the church sponsors. The Teaching Garden builds on the work of the Common Good Gardens behind the church, raising vegetable seedlings in raised beds and teaching neighbors how to grow their own food. It was conceived by Pastor Charlie after conversations with a Common Good Gardens volunteer and a parishioner who showed him raised beds in his backyard, and grew into a collaboration among the Common Good Gardens, Boy Scout Troop 51, the Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries, and the Grace Building and Grounds crew.
The Common Good Gardens
Behind the church, past the playground, lies the half-acre Common Good Gardens, planted and tended by volunteers from across the Valley Shore region from April through October. Volunteer sessions are held Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, with occasional cancellations for rain. No special skills are required; tasks range from planting seeds and weeding to harvesting.
Everything grown in the gardens goes to the Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries (SSKP), one of the parish's closest mission partners, which distributes groceries to neighbors in need. Local students have used the gardens for community service projects, and tours can be arranged for schools and organizations. A dedicated contact email, commongoodgardens@gmail.com, connects volunteers with the garden crew.
Mission Partners Near and Far
Grace Church works with a circle of mission partners whose work it shares in prayer, volunteer time, donations, and facilities.
- Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries (SSKP). Grace donates office space in the parish hall to SSKP staff members, hosts a weekly Wednesday community lunch prepared and served in cooperation with the Hospitality Committee, and provides and cooks the meal once a month. SSKP also uses the parish facilities on Friday mornings to prepare weekend food for clients. Twice each year, at Thanksgiving and Christmas, the parish and SSKP put on holiday feasts open to the public, complete with dinner, music, and a festive atmosphere.
- Common Good Gardens. The parish's vegetable garden feeds the SSKP network and offers volunteer opportunities for neighbors of all ages.
- Old Saybrook Historical Society. Grace shares its neighborhood with the Historical Society and has collaborated on exhibitions and events, including a standing-room-only World War I ballad performance in the Parish Hall.
- Kateri Medical Clinic, Nigeria. Grace has supported the Kateri non-profit since its founding, largely through the relationship with the Reverend Tom Furrer, who came to faith at Grace Church. Parishioner Kathy Bartus, a registered nurse, has joined medical mission trips to Nigeria when her schedule permits.
- Old Saybrook Youth and Family Services. Grace hosts the town's monthly Social Services Help Day in its parish hall, providing a central location for residents to access social services. The parish also contributes to the Holiday Giving Program, supports the Youth Action Council (YAC), and, through longtime parishioner Bunnie Lubs, organizes secret shoppers for the Giving Tree and runs the Socks for All campaign each year.
Bible Studies, Small Groups, and Pastoral Care
Two weekly Bible studies anchor the parish's small-group life. The Women's Bible Study, known as Women of Grace (WOG), meets on Friday mornings from 10:00 to 11:30 AM in the Hudson Room of the Parish House from September through June, taking a break during July and August. The group often meets outside on the church patio in fair weather and occasionally gathers for fellowship outings. The Men's Fellowship and Bible Study meets at noon on Fridays at the Parthenon Diner in Old Saybrook, offering a time for men to talk through their concerns and pray for one another.
A Healing Ministry Bible Study meets on Monday evenings, and the rector leads a Men's Discipleship Gathering on Saturday mornings. GriefShare, a structured support program for those who have lost a loved one, runs multi-week sessions several times a year under the coordination of Jeannette Barone. The parish also keeps Alcoholics Anonymous meetings at the church on Sunday afternoons and Tuesday evenings, and offers pastoral and Eucharistic visits to those unable to attend worship in person.
Standing Ministries Behind the Scenes
Behind every Sunday at Grace stands a wide circle of lay ministries that keep the parish running.
The Altar Guild, led by Betty Salldin, prepares the sanctuary for worship, caring for vestments, linens, candles, vessels, and altar flowers. The Ushers and Liturgical Assistants, including Head Usher Cal Baker and Head Lector Devin Carney, greet worshippers, distribute bulletins, guide processions, and serve at the altar as Eucharistic Ministers and lectors. The Hospitality team, coordinated by JoAnn Eaccarino, hosts coffee hours after Sunday services, welcomes visiting guests, supports weddings, fund-raisers, holy days, the annual meeting, and the Harvest and Holiday Fairs. The Building and Grounds team maintains the church, parish house, rectory, and Memorial Garden.
The Tech Team, born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, operates the tech booth that broadcasts the 10:00 AM service live on Facebook and YouTube. Headed by Kyle Trask-Kuchta, the team continues to refine the parish's networking and streaming capabilities for in-house and remote programming.
The Bible Book Box on Main Street
Since 2018, the parish has maintained a free Bible ministry on Main Street. The Bible Book Box, built by parishioner Bill Peace to resemble the church itself, complete with miniature roof shingles, a see-through door, and a bell tower, sits outside and offers Bibles to anyone who would like one. Two tables inside the church hold additional free Bibles. The parish has given away more than 500 Bibles in English and Spanish, including study Bibles and children's Bibles, in translations ranging from the NRSV to the King James. The idea traces back to Pastor Charlie's time at Trinity Cathedral in Pittsburgh, where he watched churches close and their contents sit in storage while visitors passed through looking for solace and wisdom.
Music, Flowers, and Care for the Homebound
The Flower Delivery Ministry is one of the parish's quiet treasures. After Sunday worship, volunteers visit homebound and recovering parishioners, as well as members of nursing homes, with altar flowers from that morning's service. In recent years the ministry has expanded to bring flowers to those celebrating milestones, returning after a long absence, going through a difficult season, or simply in need of a small kindness.
Marking the Year Together
Grace marks the Christian year with both solemn and joyful traditions. The annual Christmas Candlelight Service brings parishioners and friends together for Holy Eucharist and the lighting of candles during "Silent Night." The Blessing of the Animals, held annually outside the church's front door, welcomes dogs, cats, ferrets, the occasional bearded dragon, and any other well-behaved pet whose owner would like a blessing. The Harvest Fair (some years) and Holiday Fair (other years) fill the Parish Hall with crafts, jewelry, knitted goods, gently used books, homemade applesauce and pastries, a silent auction, and a luncheon of soups and other fare. Friday Night Light brings the parish around the church's fire pit in October for campfires, songs, cider, and fellowship. The annual church picnic is a summer celebration of parish life with food and games. Each All Saints' Day, the parish gathers for a full-congregation photograph, a tradition the parish has kept since 2018.
Every few years the parish hosts an Alpha Program series, an introduction to the Christian faith with small-group breakouts, for parishioners and their guests. Each winter the Annual Meeting brings the parish together to review the year past and look ahead, with a social meal alongside the business.
Sacred Ceremonies
As an Episcopal parish, Grace recognizes the traditional sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Matrimony, as well as the sacred ceremonies of funerals, where the parish not only memorializes the deceased but also proclaims the promise of resurrection. Adult baptisms are also celebrated. The parish works through its worship services, Bible studies, and discussion groups to understand the theology and Biblical background of these ceremonies, welcoming all who would join in the fellowship and faith of Jesus Christ.
Visiting Grace Church
Grace Episcopal Church is located at 336 Main Street, Old Saybrook, CT 06475. From Route 9 south, take Exit 2 toward Middlesex Turnpike/CT-154, then continue on CT-154 about 1.9 miles, bear slightly left onto Main Street, and the church will be on the left within 0.7 miles. From I-95 southwest, take Exit 67 toward Elm Street, turn left onto Elm Street, then right onto Main Street, and the church will be on the left. From I-95 northeast, take Exit 66, follow CT-166 to US-1 North, then turn right onto Old Boston Post Road and right again onto Main Street.
Sunday services are at 8:00 AM (Rite I, no music) and 10:00 AM (Rite II, with music and livestream). Nursery and Sunday School are offered during the 10:00 AM service, except on the first Sunday of the month. The Wednesday Healing Service meets at 10:00 AM on the first Wednesday of the month from September through May. The church office can be reached at 860-388-0895 or gracechurcholdsaybrook@gmail.com. Past sermons are posted to the parish's YouTube channel and Facebook page, and Sunday bulletins are published online.