Eastford congregation votes to relocate after devasting church fire

EASTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) – The Congregational Church of Eastford’s membership decided Wednesday to relocate to a new site after their church building was devasted by a fire last year.

The vote had an “overwhelming” majority, with most members opting to move to a location with “abundant” space to host community events, programs for school kids and local seniors, and space both indoors and outdoors for children and youth.

Church leaders said the decision was made with future growth in mind.

“While the old hilltop location on Church Road was beautiful, the space was too small – especially considering possible future growth,” leaders said in a Facebook post Thursday . “On a new site and in a new building we intend to provide for another century or two of blessings.”

Leaders hope to have the new building on John Perry Road completed by late 2025.

Since the fire, the congregation has gathered for worship at the nearby Eastford School, seeing a significant increase in attendance, particularly among children.

Their former building- an almost 300-year-old church- burned to the ground around 3 a.m. on a Sunday morning, April 23, 2023.

Extensive damage had been done to the building by the time firefighters arrived, and weather delayed fire suppression efforts further.

“A thunderstorm came through the area at approximately the same time as the fire — that dampers the operation a little bit, as well as power lines on the side of the building,” Eastford Fire Deputy Chief James Roy said. “So, we had to wait for Eversource to secure those lines, and that hinders the operation.”

Last month, two teenagers were arrested for allegedly setting the fire.

Both suspects provided full confessions for their roles in the Eastford church fire during interviews with investigators, state troopers said in April.

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