Good Shepherd Episcopal Church Bristol CT

Welcome to Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Bristol, Connecticut.

WE THE PEOPLE of Good Shepherd are united in God's love for all and in our love for one another, for all others, and for God. We want to follow Jesus. We want to live in God's love and allow God's love to live in us. We cannot do that in the past nor can we fret over the future. God has called us to be loved and to be loved NOW. With God's help we press forward in faith, hope, and love.

 

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http://goodshepherdbristol.org/  

 

 

Good Shepherd is located at 851 Stafford Avenue in Bristol, Connecticut. We are 3/10ths of a mile north of the intersection of Farmington Avenue (Route 6) and Stafford Avenue.  

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St. John’s Episcopal Church of Bristol, and Church of Our Savior merged in Fall 2019, and became Good Shepherd Episcopal Church - Bristol/Plainville.

St. John's has been around for over 130 years.

1885 - St. John's Episcopal Mission in Forestville begun. 1885-1887 - Parish met for worship in Firemen's Hall. 1886 - Sunday School established in January and first Confirmation Class confirmed in March. 1887 - Services moved to Bethesda Swedish Lutheran Church on Academy Street, Forestville. Dorcas Guild established for women, St. Agnes Guild for girls ages 14 and up. 1899 - James Hart Welch deeded land on Academy Street to the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut on which to erect a church, April 18. 1900 - Ground broken on October 5 for the new church, to be built in "American Gothic " style. 1901 - St. John's Chapel consecrated on June 20 by Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut Bishop Chauncey Brewster. 1916 - Girls Friendly Society formed. 1920 - First legal meeting of St. John's held January 30. First recognition of St. John's as a separate parish. Formerly considered a mission under Trinity Episcopal Church in Bristol 1925 - At parish meeting of May 26, 22 parishioners signed an application to become a mission of the Diocese of Connecticut, thereby establishing independent status. 1927 - Parish House formally opened, November 29. 1935 - 110 people attended a banquet in the Parish House to celebrate St. John's 50th Anniversary. 1940 - New electronic organ dedicated, October 13, replacing original foot-pumped organ. 1952 - The Rev. John W. McCann appointed first resident vicar, sharing his time with the Episcopal churches in New Britain and Terryville. The parish newspaper, St. John's News, begun in November. 1953 - First telephone installed. A Ladies Evening Guild and a Young Peoples Fellowship formed. 1954 - Steeple bell, donated by a student at Watkinson School, dedicated, January 3. Previously, this bell had served the old Watkinson chapel. On the first Sunday of August, a new Hammond electronic organ was installed. 1956 - The Rev. Robert B. Doing, Jr., appointed first full-time vicar. Vicarage at 21 Academy Street acquired. 1958 - Five acres of land purchased on Stafford Avenue in Bristol from the New Britain Water Company for the erection of a new, larger building. 1959 - Father Doing moved into the new split-level vicarage just built at 831 Stafford Avenue, April 11. 1961 - New church/all-purpose building, located at 851 Stafford Avenue in Bristol, dedicated by Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut Bishop John Esquirol, June 11. 1964 - Ground broken for the new educational wing, to be added to the all-purpose building, November 8. 1965 - New educational wing completed and occupied, May 6. 1966 - St. John's Nursery School opened in September, with sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. 1968 - New pews, gifts of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Waterville, installed in April. 1973 - Diocese financial support ends -- St. John's becomes a self-supporting parish in January. The Rev. George W. Razee, vicar since March 1, 1967, becomes first full-time Rector. 1977 - Mortgage on the 1961 church/all-purpose building burned, March 6. 1981 - Church ceiling insulated and ceiling fans installed. 1982 - Vestibule added to main entrance on west side of church. Celtic cross from original church on Academy Street refurbished and mounted on new vestibule roof. 1984 - New Baldwin electronic organ dedicated at a special concert on Palm Sunday.

2000-2009 - Decade of Highs and Lows

2001 - New sanctuary built as wing at south side of existing building. 2003-2006 - Conflict between some members of St. John's and the Episcopal Church over issue of ordination of gay bishop in New Hampshire. - Priest and many members left over issue. - The Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut helped remaining St. John's members continue God's mission in Bristol

2010s - Hanging the Rainbow Flag

2013 - After numerous discussions and Parish Meetings, the Vestry makes the decision to hang the Rainbow flag to show that All Are Welcome!