Marking History

In 1705 the first Baptist church in Connecticut was founded in Groton, with Valentine Wightman serving as the pastor. The Baptists on the other side of the bridge found it difficult to travel to Groton for services so the second Baptist church in Connecticut was founded in what would later become Waterford. This tiny congregation that met in homes and without a pastor for several years was the foundation for what became the First Baptist Church of Waterford. 

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The first pastor was Steven Gorton, who ministered here for sixteen years. During his ministry, the first church meetinghouse was built on Pepper Box Hill. 

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Nathan Howard became the second pastor in 1756. He donated the land on Mullen Hill Road for the church cemetery and was the first to be buried there. He ministered at the church for nineteen years. 

The third pastor, Zadok Darrow, ministered at the church for fifty-two years, bringing stability and growth to the small congregation. Under his leadership, the second church building, affectionally called the Darrow Meetinghouse was built across the street from the cemetery on Mullen Hill Road. In1801, Waterford held its first town meeting in the Darrow Meetinghouse. The building was used for sixty years and a marker indicates the spot where the historic building once stood. 

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In 1827, Francis Darrow, grandson of Zadok Darrow became the pastor of First Baptist Church of Waterford. Under his ministry, seven hundred people were saved and became members of the church. Then in 1848, the current church building, known as the Jordan Meetinghouse, on Rope Ferry Road was built. Jordan Village was built around the church, even mimicking its Greek-revival architecture. 

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The church has ministered and served through every period of American history, proclaiming the Gospel. In good times and in hard, the church has remained and sought to obey the Lord's calling. We are blessed to stand on the shoulders of those who sacrificed and served before us. 

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