A brief history of the Dixwell Avenue Congregational Church, UCC The church that is now the Dixwell Avenue

Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, was founded on February 8, 1820, when there were approximately 1000 Negroes in New Haven. Some few of these men and women had found their way into white churches, but for the most part, they were absolutely without religious instruction. Source: Dixwell Church Archives. The church was founded as the African Ecclesiastical Society by a young white abolitionist, Simeon S. Jocelyn, and 24 former slaves. Initially they met in peoples homes; in 1824, they were able to purchase the building they had been renting from a Methodist congregation at 105 Temple Street; they remained at that location until 1886, when they moved to 100 Dixwell Ave. That was their church home until they moved to their current house of worship at 217 Dixwell Ave. Throughout its history, Dixwell Church, as it is now known, has been at the forefront in the struggle of human rights, civil rights, and justice. Its early pastors were leaders, even conductors of the Underground Railroad and antislavery movements and the Amistad Incident of 1839. Slavery was not abolished in Connecticut until 1848. In 1924, Dixwell Church donated the land at 98 Dixwell Avenue for the building of the Dixwell Community House. The purpose of the facility was social programs, arts, and athletics. During the turbulent fifties and sixties, the church was a leader in the fight for equal justice. Some of the churchs initiatives: education reform, open housing, and minority empowerment. A Christian Action Committee was formed. The church housed the Dixwell Creative Arts Center, and a Day Care Center. The Florence Virtue Homes, cooperative housing, were built and exist today. At 192 years, the church is looking forward to continue to be relevant in the 21st century. The members will be focusing on programs for youth and the elderly, education, community outreach, and financial stability and sustainability. The church is currently under the leadership of its Acting Pastor, the Rev. Dr. Frederick J. Streets. Margo Johnson-Taylor Dixwell Church Historian, January, 26, 2012.