Vision Statement:
As a people of God, we seek to create an environment within the church which will encourage the use of Gods gifts by nurturing and supporting individuals, small groups and the Church itself to bring effective ministry to specific human hurts and hopes in our Christian family, our local communities and beyond.

Our History:
The First Congregational Church of Bethel was first gathered in 1759 with members meeting in the home of Isaac Hoyt.

 In 1760 the first minister, Rev. Noah Wetmore, was called to serve the congregation and the Ecclesiastical Society of Bethel was formed.  Captain Ebenezer Hickok granted land for the building and burial ground, and soon after a meeting house was built.

Among the members of the early church was showman P.T. Barnum.

The original church burned down in 1842, and was rebuilt.  In 1865 the spire of the new building fell in a strong wind.  The meeting house was sold to the town and moved to the other side of the burial ground.  It was used as a town hall for many years and is now the home of the Bethel Historical Society and VFW Post 135.  The congregation built a new pressed brick structure on the site of the original meeting house, where we continue to worship today.  The interior of the current building was damaged by a fire in 1926.  The communion table, which survived the fire, is still in use today.

In 1960, the Beard family donated adjacent land to build the parish house which today houses offices and classrooms.

In 1995 a major renovation of the sanctuary was completed.