Our Legacy

The Wildermere Beach Congregational Church traces its origins to 1895, when it was simply known as the "meeting house," a central gathering space for the community's religious services and legal meetings. The church became an incorporated institution in 1923, officially named the Walnut Beach Union Chapel Society, Inc. Twenty years later, in 1943, it joined the Connecticut Conference of Congregational Churches, establishing a broader regional connection that reflected its deepening role in the faith community. Around this time, the church adopted its current name: Wildermere Beach Congregational Church.

The original structure of the church saw many changes over the years to accommodate its growing congregation and outreach efforts. In 1924, a kitchen was added, with a furnace room situated in between that doubled as a Sunday School teaching space. By the late 1940s, a raised ranch-style parsonage—one of the first of its kind in the area—was built next door to the church. In 1950, a parish hall addition provided a new space for gatherings, and a building program launched in 1967 expanded the church further. This 1968 addition included a small chapel, congregational living room, church school nursery on the first floor, and an office and pastor’s study on the second floor, transforming the church into a multi-functional space for worship, education, and fellowship.

In its early years, Wildermere Beach Congregational Church welcomed a range of guest pastors and Yale Divinity School students who helped nurture its spiritual life. Notably, Reverend Howard C. Meserve, an early preacher, later became the Head Librarian of the Taylor Library in Milford’s Chamber of Commerce building.

Wildermere Beach Congregational Church has always prioritized community involvement. The Good Shepherd Day Care Center, a vital outreach program, originated within the church as a way to serve local families. Initially run by church members and funded by donations and volunteer support, it grew into a full-time, state-funded center until the demand outpaced the building’s capacity. The church also provided free Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for several years, a tradition that eventually continued through the Berean Assembly of God Church on New Haven Avenue.

Through these many years of service, Wildermere Beach Congregational Church has maintained its identity as the “little white church by the beach,” fostering a spirit of love, faith, and connection within its walls and beyond.

The Wildermere Beach Congregational Church dates back to 1895, at which time it was a community meeting place for religious and legal meetings. In 1923 it became the Walnut Beach Union Chapel Society, Inc. In 1943 it was accepted into membership of the Connecticut Conference of Congregational Churches and later changed its name to Wildermere Beach Congregational Church.

The original structure was simply the "meeting house" building, but in 1924 a kitchen was constructed with a furnace room in between. The furnace room also was used as a Sunday School teaching area along with the church proper. In the late 1940's a raised ranch style parsonage was built next to the church. This was one of the first raised ranch style homes in the area. In 1950 an addition was erected to the church creating a parish hall. In 1967 a building program was instituted for another addition. The addition was finished in 1968 and added a small chapel, a congregational living room and a church school nursery on the first floor, an office and pastor's study on the second floor.

During the early years of WBCC the church was served by visiting pastors and students from Yale Divinity School. One of the earliest preachers was The Reverend Howard C. Meserve who later became Head Librarian of the Taylor Library, in the building housing the Chamber of Commerce in Milford center.

The Wildermere Beach Congregational Church has always been community involved. The Good Shepherd Day Care Center had its birth at this church as a church-related outreach program. The original Board of Directors were all members and friends of the church. For the first years it was entirely supported by church donations and volunteer staff, but the need was greater for a full time center and it became state-funded and remained meeting at the church until the child population became too great for the size of the building.

For several years the church provided free Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for anyone who wished to attend. This ministry became a part of the outreach of the Berean Assembly of God Church on New Haven Avenue in later years.

1895: Visiting pastors from neighboring towns

1905 - 1928: Rev. Howard Meserve

Nov 1928 - Jun 1929: Rev. Paul Keckley

Jun 1929 - Oct 1929: Rev. Donald Salmon

Oct 1929 - Aug 1930: Rev. C. G. Christensen

Aug 1930 - Dec 1930: Rev. J.E. Walters

Dec 1930 - Jun 1932: Rev. F. B . Loper

Jun 1932 - May 1934: Rev. Walter Moore

May 1934 - May 1936: Rev. Curtiss Jones

Jun 1936 - Sep 1936: Rev. William Henderson

Sep 1936 - Sep 1937: Rev. Russell Compton

Sep 1937 - Apr 1937: Rev. Howard Mumnia

Apr 1937 - Oct 1937: Students from Yale Divinity

Oct 1937 - Jan 1941: Rev. William West

Jan 1941 - Jun 1941: Rev. E. C. Rowand

Jun 1941 - Sep. 1943: Rev. Bryan Eshelman

Sep 1943 - May 1944: Rev. Avery Lee

Jun 1944 - Aug 1945: Rev. E. Weldon Keckley

Sep 1945 - Jan 1946: Supply Pastors

Feb 1946 - Sep 1951: Rev. William Knox

Oct 1951 - Apr 1952: Dr. Warren W. Pickett

May 1952 - Aug 1955: Rev. Howard 0. Steams, Jr.

Sep 1955 - Jun 1958: Rev. William B. Bradshaw

Summer 1958: Rev. Robert Watson

Aug 1958 - Jan 1959: Candidates

Feb 1959 - Mar 1964: Rev. Elmer Patterson

Apr 1964 - Aug 1964: Rev. John Smith

Sep 1964 - Jun 1973: Rev. Robert H. Anderson

Jun 1973 - Aug 1973: Supply Pastors

Sep 1973 - Jun 1974: William C. Matthews

Jun 1974 - Jul 1985: Rev. Hartford C. Inlow

Aug 1985 - Jun 1986: Rev. L. Randall Thompson

Aug 1986 - Jan 1993: Rev. Douglas P Lyon

1993 - 1995: Rev. David Colton (Interim)

1995 - 1996: Supply Preachers

Sep 1996 - Aug 2001: Rev. Arthur F. White

Sep 2001 - Apr 2012: Rev. John B. Thursby

Jun 2012 - present: Rev. L. Kenneth Fellenbaum