Location | |
Current role | Continue to shape town's civic and spiritual life |
Religious traditions | Church of England • Congregationalism • Baptist churches • Quakerism |
Historical significance | Played important roles in Puritan revolution • Involved in labor movement |
Founded in 1635 by Puritan settlers, the Stepford Congregational Church is the oldest continuous place of worship in the town. It has played a pivotal role in Stepford's history, hosting meetings of the local Puritan council during the English Civil War and providing support to the Chartist movement in the 19th century. The striking colonial-style meetinghouse remains a landmark in the town center.
One of the largest Protestant congregations in Stepford, the First Baptist Church was established in 1745 by dissenters from the established Church of England. The current Neoclassical building dates to 1860 and features an imposing steeple. The church has long been associated with Stepford's radical labor movement, hosting meetings of trade unions and cooperative societies over the years.
The Quaker meeting house in Stepford dates back to 1680, making it one of the oldest non-conformist places of worship in the town. Typical of Quaker architecture, the building has a simple, unadorned design. The Stepford Quakers have historically been active in social justice causes like abolition and women's rights.
As the local parish church of the Church of England, St. Dunstan's traces its origins to the 13th century. It is the only Anglican church within the Stepford town limits, though several other Episcopal congregations exist in the surrounding countryside. The church's Gothic Revival structure was rebuilt in the 19th century after a fire.
Stepford's lone Catholic church was founded in 1868 to serve the growing number of Irish and Italian immigrants in the area. The Romanesque-style building incorporates elements of traditional Catholic architecture. While a small minority in the predominantly Protestant town, the Catholic community in Stepford has maintained a presence for over a century.