Newtown Christian Church, Est. 1965

How It All Started

What was later to become the Newtown Christian Church began with a group of people in Bridgeport, Connecticut on Sunday evening, January 22nd, 1961. It was known as the park City Christian Church. There were nine people present, with several others unable to come due to heavy snow that night.

Rosalie Wycinowski had contacted Elmer Kile of the "Go Ye" Chapel (now Orchrd Group) to partner with her and a handful of believers to start this new work. Richard Bourne was to serve as the first minister following the early leadership of Mr. Kile.

The church at Bridgeport continued to meet for the next four years. Because of the great distance between members, a nucleus left Bridgeport and started the congregation in Wallingford, CT.

Mr. Bourne continued to minister with the group left in Bridgeport, as well as the group that began meeting in Wallingford. Later, Mr. Bourne was called to the Wallingford work and Gerald Dye was called to work with the group in Bridgeport.

In October of 1965, the building at Bridgeport was sold, and the church began meeting in Edmond Town Hall in Newtown, Connecticut, which was the central location for the families that were attending weekly services. It was at this point that the church became known as the Newtown Christian Church of Christ and the group had a great determination to grow in Christ. The first Sunday that they met in Newtown they had two additions by transfer of membership.

In 1968, the "Go Ye" Chapel Mission purchased two acres to use for the construction of a new building. In April of that year, approval was granted by the town of Newtown for the church to build a new building to be used for public worship. Sometime during the year of 1969 the church moved from Edmond Town Hall to the new church building located at Rock Ridge Road (now Sugar Street) and Route 302.

In 1972, the church called James Conner to serve as the minister for the congregation. The ministry of Mr. Conner was short lived as Rick Fordyce was called called to serve as minister in November of the same year. The church continued to grow under the ministry of Mr. Fordyce over the next six years. He eventually left the ministry in 1978 and the church continued to meet under the leadership of the Elders of the church for the next eighteen months. 

Where We Are Today

Eventually Jack Tanner was called to begin ministering with the church in 1980. He had served for a brief period in the summer of 1979 to provide some relief for the Elders. He was asked at the end of the summer by the Elders if he would consider accepting a call to minister with the church. Finally, in June of 1980, he accepted.

Mr. Tanner's ministry lasted for forty-four years, up until his passing on April 20, 2024. The church continued to meet for two years, with the leadership of the Elders and had two interim ministers, Richard Maddeaux and Daniel Tucciarone, during their search for a new Pastor. In April of 2026, Daniel Tucciarone accepted the role of head minister and continues to serve to this day.