The Congregational Church of New Canaan 1731-2025, The Pastors

This is collection of profiles of the nineteen pastors who have led The Congregational Church of New Canaan, Connecticut since it was established as Canaan Parish on May 13, 1731 by the General Assembly of His Majesty King George II's Colony of Connecticut. English Puritan and Congregational settlers began clearing fields and building houses in that part of Fairfield County around 1629. By 1731, the community that became Canaan Parish had grown to the point that it needed its own church. In May 1731, John Bouton, John Benedick, John Fitch and Ebenezer Carter petitioned the General Assembly for permission to form a new parish out of lands that were part of Norwalk and Stamford. The petition was granted later that month. In addition to being a church community, the parish performed all of the administrative functions of a town government, including the collection of taxes from all of its residents regardless of religious affiliation. In 1801, Canaan Parish was incorporated as the Town of New Canaan under the laws of the State of Connecticut.