1849 With the closest Congregational Church over three miles away, early settlers found it difficult to get to worship. In 1849, a group heard God's call to establish a local church, which came to be called First Congregational Church of Black Rock. It was located on Ellsworth Street in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport and was attended by 24 people. "The people [were] filled with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for the completion of their first meeting house. They were filled with anticipation of what God was going to do in their midst and in the years to come."* 1886 Reverend Henry Collings Woodruff led the first official expansion to build a chapel to meet the ministry needs of the growing church.