Two and a Half Centuries on Division Street
The Congregational Church of Naugatuck sits on Division Street, a short walk from the Naugatuck Town Green. On February 22, 1781, the congregation was formally gathered, and it has remained a steady presence in this New Haven County borough ever since. In 1902, the church joined St. Michael's Episcopal Church in leasing a portion of the town green - a 999-year arrangement still in effect - giving the congregation a permanent stake in the civic heart of Naugatuck.
The building next door, the Parish House, was dedicated on October 10, 1888. Over more than a century it has housed church school classrooms, church programs, community programs, and at one time even the town library. At the Annual Meeting on January 27, 1961, the congregation voted to become part of the United Church of Christ. It continues to work in covenant partnership with the Naugatuck/Beacon Falls Conference of Churches, the New Haven Association, and the Southern New England Conference of the UCC.
Sunday Mornings in the Sanctuary
Weekly worship is held at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Services typically run about an hour and follow a familiar rhythm of prayers, music, and a sermon, with all of the elements laid out in a printed bulletin handed out at the door. An offering plate is available as worshippers enter, and giving can also be done online or through Venmo at @congonaug.
Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of every month. The full calendar of the Christian year shapes the rest of the schedule: Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Advent Lessons and Carols, the Longest Night service in December, and Christmas Eve each draw the wider community into the sanctuary. Beyond these, the church offers Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Memorials and Funerals, Ordinations and Installations, and Dedications.
Recorded services are posted to the church's Facebook page, so anyone unable to attend in person can catch up on the week's message.
A Warm Welcome for Visitors and Families
The church answers the questions newcomers tend to ask first. Children of all ages are welcome in worship - that is the default, not the exception. A nursery option is also available, and the deacons help families navigate either choice. Visitors dress however they feel comfortable; jeans, t-shirts, dresses, and suits all appear on Sunday mornings. Parking is available in the church lot, and there is also street parking on Division, Meadow, and Church Streets.
The Sanctuary and Parish Hall both have ramp access. The most accessible-friendly restroom is on the first floor of the Parish House; a deacon by the sanctuary door can escort anyone who needs a hand finding it.
Children, Nursery, and Faith Formation
Children are woven into the life of the church, not set apart from it. From September through May, every Sunday includes a Children's Moment after which children go with the Faith Formation Minister and a deacon to the Parish House classrooms next door for activities and a lesson until the end of service. The first Sunday of the month is Communion Sunday, and children remain in worship with their families throughout.
The nursery, located downstairs on the ground level of the Parish House, is open every Sunday of the year for infants through age four. It opens at 10:00 and stays open until each parent or guardian picks up their child. The room is bright, well-stocked with toys, books, and activities, and staffed by adults and teens trained in the church's Safe Conduct policy. To keep things safe for kids with food allergies, the nursery is snack-free, though parents may leave a bottle or diaper bag. Registration forms are requested for any child left in nursery care.
Sunday School runs from early September, following Rally Day (New Beginnings Sunday), through early June. The program is led by the Faith Formation Committee and the Director of Faith Formation from the second through fifth Sundays of each month. Registration forms are updated annually, and new students may join at any point during the year.
Music at the Heart of Worship
Music is central to Sunday worship. The Music Ministry Team includes Emily Diedrich and Joe Masulli, who plan and lead the music program. Singers interested in joining the choir can reach out at music@congonaug.org to find out how to participate.
A Building That Hosts the Community
The Parish House does far more than house classrooms. Several of its spaces are available for rent, making the building a resource for the wider Naugatuck community.
The Parish Hall is a large, open room with a stage, accommodating 234 people standing or 113 with tables and chairs - well suited to parties, presentations, and special occasions. Tables and chairs are provided, and a connected kitchen is available as a separate rental. The Whittemore Room is a warm, living-room-style space with three seating areas and capacity for sixty, ideal for small gatherings or meetings. Room 11, on the second floor, is another large open space that holds 135 standing or 64 with tables and chairs. The Soper Room rounds out the available spaces. For an additional fee, renters can add the kitchen, projector, speaker, or other equipment.
Beliefs, in the Church's Own Words
The congregation describes itself as called by and in covenant with God and one another, and as followers of Jesus Christ. Its mission is to welcome and affirm all people as called by God, to grow and help others grow in faith, to serve the world with active faith, joy, and prayerful hope, and to be the Church beyond its walls.
The statement of belief that anchors the congregation runs in this order: in one still-speaking God in three persons - Creator (Father/Mother), Redeemer (Jesus Christ), and Sustainer (Holy Spirit); in the dignity of each unique person made in the image of God, each welcome, wanted, and needed; in the call to seek God and to do the work the Spirit leads by discernment and deep listening; and in the call to build each other up in God's grace.
Getting Involved
Visitors who want to put down roots can join one of several committees and ministry teams: the Diaconate, Business, Church Council, Whole Church Fellowship (WCF), Mission Outreach, and others still forming. There are also named volunteer roles - Sunday School chaperone (background check required), Hospitality and Fellowship Hour, Faith Formation, and the choir. The office at 9 Division Street is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and appointments can be made at other times by request. The phone number is (203) 729-3037.