Early Parish History

The origins of Trinity Parish are closely intertwined with the history of the Episcopal Church in America. Prior to 1700, the only religious organization permitted to exist in the Colony of Connecticut was the Congregational Faith and Order.

Members of the Church of England residing in Connecticut, unhappy with the state of affairs, in 1701 arranged for the formation of an organization called the Venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. In 1702, two ministers of the Church of England representing the Society as missionaries, surveyed various places in New England as locations for churches. As a result of their efforts, the Society established a mission in Rye, New York in 1704 and a minister began to visit Fairfield and Stratford. Services were held over the next 15 years by visiting ministers. 

In 1724, a warden and two vestrymen were appointed for a new parish in Fairfield and construction of a church was begun on Mill Plain, about a mile from the Village. The first service was conducted on November 10, 1725, Thanksgiving Day. The parish consisted of approximately 40 families.

If you are interested in more early history of the parishioners of Trinity Church, you can find the records of the Rev. Philo Shelton from 1785-1825 here.

If you are interested in the history of the Episcopal Church, you can read about it here

Mill Plain Road, ca. 1725