West Haven's Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit parish turns 300

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WEST HAVEN — Since January, Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit's junior warden Nancy Staniewicz and its historian Sue Carlson have overturned every inch of the church's Church Street building in search of artifacts revealing the parish's history.

The pair haven't had any discoveries as monumental as the Rev. Jervis Zimmerman did in the 1950s when he discovered the original pewter chalice used as the church's primary vessel stemming from the 1740s that had long been missing. However, they have still managed to organize scattered documents, information and artifacts to create a chronological narrative of the parish's 300-year history.

"When Nancy and I started going through files, we found a rich documentation; we found things in every location, we found things wrapped in cloth," said Carlson. "There was also a file cabinet, but things weren't all put back in the right order."

On Saturday and Sunday, the church will host an open house celebration to recognize the parish's founding in 1723.

"Our purpose in having the celebration is to honor the past and demonstrate we are an active resource in this community," said Staniewicz.

Carlson said the parish has been active for the duration of those 300 years except a seven-year period in the 1930s when most of the church's leadership was serving in the merchant marines; she said there is not much information about that period. Staniewicz said the initial Christ Church was built with timber collected from what is now the West Haven downtown green in 1725.

According to church verger Steven Mullins, the church is the second oldest Episcopal congregation in the state, but shares a common founder in the Rev. Samuel Johnson. Christ Church, founded in the location where the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit sits today, was referred to as the "mother" church for Connecticut's Episcopal movement.

In 2006, the Christ Church parish merged with St. John by-the-Sea to create the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit. Throughout the parish's history, Staniewicz said the parish has remained committed to community service; today, parishioners maintain a vegetable garden from which the parish donates to a local food pantry and monthly parishioners will serve breakfast at a homeless shelter. For about 40 years, the parish maintained a thrift shop that provided clothing and household essentials to residents in need.

"We found such a rich supply of historical pictures that we wanted to put it together. We thought it's a wonderful way to share the history of the parish," Carlson said.

Carlson said it is their hope that residents can attend the open house and see things such as long-forgotten confirmation photos.

On May 27 from 1 to 5 p.m., parishioners will host tours of the 1905 church and parish hall and on May 28 at 9 a.m., a reception will follow worship with celebrant Suffragan Bishop Laura Ahrens.