About Us
At Chester Congregational Baptist Church, our faith is centered on God's unconditional love and the transformative teachings of Jesus Christ. We believe in a God who welcomes all people, calls us to love our neighbors, and invites us into a lifelong journey of growth and discovery. Our beliefs shape how we worship, serve, and live together as a community.
Our Affiliation and Covenant
We gladly acknowledge our dual memberships in the United Church of Christ and the American Baptist Churches. We celebrate our ecumenical and interfaith relationships with communities of faith.
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a progressive, mainline Protestant denomination in the United States, formed in 1957 through the merger of the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church, known for its commitment to social justice, inclusivity, and local church autonomy.
American Baptist Churches
The American Baptist Churches USA is a mainline Protestant Baptist denomination, tracing its roots to 1814 and headquartered in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, known for its theological and racial diversity, commitment to local church autonomy and individual soul liberty, and active engagement in social justice and missions.
Our Beliefs
We believe that every human being is created in the image of God, and therefore deserves the dignity and respect inherent in that image. We believe that God is love and that Jesus Christ is the embodiment of that love and we strive to follow his example of service and inclusion.
We believe in one God; Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. We believe that this God is the source of all of creation and is Love incarnate in Jesus Christ, working through the Holy Spirit to empower us to live faithfully.
We believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God, and should be interpreted with discernment and diligence.
We believe that justice is not judgement but rather God’s love in action, the embodied revelation of God’s unconditional love for every human being.
Our Beginnings
Chester became a chartered township on February 5, 1721. Soon after that, the first settlers of the town made plans for a public place of worship. The First Church Congregational was established in 1730 and the first meetinghouse built in 1731.
The Meetinghouse
In 1772, the Congregational parish voted at their annual meeting in March to build a new meetinghouse within the next two years on this current site.
Two Congregations Merge
In the early 1940s, the First Baptist Church of Chester decided to give up the independent support of a church building, due to dwindling membership, but wished to continue its existence as a Chester congregation rather than disperse to Baptist churches in other towns. Upon invitation of the Congregational Church of Chester, an agreement was worked out, and this agreement has continued with exceptional harmony and is still in effect. The two churches agreed to act as one congregation and to support one ministry, but each retains its own denominational affiliation (United Church of Christ and The American Baptist Churches).
We Continue to Worship
Through the years, Chester Congregational Baptist Church has had a dedicated ministry of many laypersons and pastors working together to the glory of God. In worship, in planning for the future, in mission outreach, in teaching, in maintenance, in caring for one another, the Spirit of Christ has been reflected in the commitment and remembrances of so many. It is with deep gratitude for that commitment and Spirit which continues to exist, that we look to the future with hope and faith.
Our History
Chester Congregational Baptist Church has a rich and deep history rooted in Chester, NH. View the whole history here.