ABCCONN's Formation and Offices
Saturday, April 25, 2009, at Grace Baptist Church, Waterbury, our 185th annual gathering took place. Its theme “Walking in the steps of Jesus” echoes a similar call 50 years ago by Executive Secretary William Sale Terrell that “we rededicate ourselves to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and call our entire denomination to the common task of sharing the whole Gospel with the whole world.” Truly a timeless message!
ABCCONN, at one time, was called “The Connecticut Baptist Convention.” Its original name was “The General Convention of the Baptist Churches of the State of Connecticut and Vicinity” and was first organized at Hartford in October, 1823. The resolution incorporating the convention passed in May of 1824 and it’s from this date that we mark our annual gatherings (1824-2009) making it 185 years.
The headquarters on Bloomfield Avenue, originally called “The Connecticut Baptist Convention/House and Terrell Chapel,” was purchased June 25, 1958, occupied October 30, 1958 and dedicated June 13, 1959. So this year (2009) marks 50 years at 100 Bloomfield Avenue! At the dedication ceremony gratitude was expressed to Central Baptist Church, Hartford, for “its fraternal generosity in providing a roof over our heads since 1926.” For 32 years the convention offices were located on the first floor of Central, in very comfortable surroundings. Central Baptist – Hartford was recognized as the flagship Baptist church in our state.
As we move toward another milestone to West Hartford’s First Baptist Church (2009), let us be thankful and appreciative for all who labor in the “common task of sharing the whole Gospel with the whole world.”