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Join us in the joyful and often challenging journey of faith to pursue a better life and fairer world for all!
To Live Spiritually, to Love Inclusively, to Learn Continuously, and to Leave a Legacy.
As a cathedral for the human spirit we strive to enrich the spiritual and cultural life of our community. We believe that all of life is a theater for the Glory of God. We celebrate the interconnectedness of the sacred and the secular, outstanding music and liturgy, and innovative dramatic and visual arts.
As a congregation of inclusivity we strive to welcome all people into the life of our church. We are a friendly and caring church where people of all ages, backgrounds, and life situations are always welcomed, and where our differences are celebrated and respected. We encourage the openness and authentic humanness that breaks down barriers of fear and builds bridges of trust and love.
As a center for progressive Christianity we strive to nurture the development of resilient faith and noble values from earliest childhood, through adolescence, to mature adulthood. We enjoy the challenge of worshiping God by the renewal of our minds. We believe that all of life’s big questions have a spiritual dimension, and while there are neither easy nor ready answers, we seek to provide a safe and sacred space for doubters and seekers. We seek to deepen our commitment to the truth of the good news of Jesus Christ while also discovering and respecting the truth of other faith traditions.
As a catalyst for social change we strive to make a meaningful difference in the world and leave it a better place than we found it. We are committed to the ministry of the laity in society. We seek to be the hands and heart of God, loving others by sharing our time, talents, and resources, inspiring and empowering individuals to become all they can be, as well as working together for more just social structures.
The First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan was founded in 1956 under the first of only four permanent Senior Pastors in our history, the Rev. T. Guthrie Speers, Jr. The first Clerk of Session, or principal elder, was Stuart L. Higley. By the mid-1960s, Rev. Speers and the growing and enthusiastic congregation had outgrown its original location, the Masonic Hall on Main Street, and began planning a new permanent home on Oenoke Ridge.
PCUSA’s Mission is to inspire, equip and connect the church in three main areas:
Evangelism and discipleship, servant leader formation, and justice and reconciliation.
“We were designed to live in relationship. United by our faith, we share life together, and invite you to join us!” Visitors are always welcome, and membership inquirers’ classes are held on Sunday mornings following worship two times a year, one in the spring and one in the fall. In the class you will learn of our mission and vision, the activities and offerings of the church, the ways that you may use your gifts in service to others, and something of the history and beliefs of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
The class about “who we are, what we believe and how we try to live our faith” is a prerequisite for membership, but all are welcome to attend whether or not they are presently considering membership.
On Sundays when new members join, they will be received by the Session at 9:30am in the Common Room, will be welcomed at the 10:00am worship service, then honored at a reception in the Common Room following worship.
If you’d like us to contact you with more information about membership and/or the dates of our next inquirers’ class, please click here. If you’d prefer to contact us, please contact Wendy Starr in the church office 203-966-0002 (ext. 1).
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