About
The historic Union Baptist Church located at 1369 Hartford Pike is the focal point of the eastern part of the village of East Killingly, CT. Its founding goes back to the spring of 1776, the same year as the birth of our nation, when fifty-nine believers in Jesus Christ united together to establish the original Baptist church. They built a meeting house on the hill located about one mile up North Road on the easterly side. Their first pastor was George Robinson, who served from 1776-1785.
In 1835 the membership had grown to around 200, necessitating the construction of a larger church, which is located at the present site. The church continued to grow during the 19th and 20th centuries. Several cotton mills employed large numbers of workers who attended the church. In addition, the congregation of the Free Will Baptist Church of East Killingly united with this church in the early 20th century. Up until the late 1970s, the church was central to the life of the village, helping people spiritually and practically, as well as hosting Old Home Day festivities and the annual Memorial Day parade service and lunch. However, a decline ensued when the factories began to close and people moved away for various reasons. By 1997, there were few members left, the church and parsonage were in disrepair, and there was no pastor to conduct regular services. It appeared that the church would close.
Yet God had a plan to preserve the church when six members prayed and received help from neighboring church organizations, leaders, and congregations to refurbish the church building. In the fall of 1997, the church hired a husband and wife team, Senior Pastor Rev. William Pearl, "Pastor Bill", and Associate Pastor Colleen Pearl to preach regularly and oversee church renovations, completed in the spring of 1998. That year the church held a rededication service with over 100 people in attendance. We refer to this time of spiritual renewal and rebuilding as "the miracle on the hill," as without God’s providence, our task to keep the church alive seemed impossible. But, as Jesus reminds us in Matthew 19:26, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
From 1998-2020, the Pearls led an evangelism effort in the community to spread the gospel, instituted adult and teen evening Bible classes, several praise and prayer services, twice-monthly Sunday services in a local assisted living facility for the elderly, a monthly dinner and concert for the church and village community, and boosted the church membership to fifty. Camp Opportunity in 2005, a licensed day-camp program for local campers grew out of their youth ministry program. In 2006 they founded New Hope Academy, Inc., an accredited private Christian elementary and high school serving the tri-state area that remained open until 2019. They ministered together at the church until 2020, when Pastor Colleen passed away.
Rev. Pearl served as sole pastor until the end of 2022 and, beginning in 2023, serves as Pastor Emeritus.
Pastor Antonio Manalus was called in 2023. He directed the much-needed renovation of the interior of the sanctuary and the fellowship hall. He leads weekly evening Bible studies and monthly prayer meetings.
For a more detailed history of the church, click the link below:
