First Congregational Church

First Congregational Church of Winchester is a United Church of Christ congregation that calls itself a Christ-centered, nurturing community. It embraces the UCC’s liberal Protestant identity as a theological rather than political one, and its members come from many religious backgrounds. As an Open and Affirming church, it welcomes people regardless of race, age, ability, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, ethnicity or religious tradition, and it uses inclusive language in worship, hymns and prayers.

Programs are planned to be intergenerational, from an infant-toddler nursery and Sunday School through middle and high school youth groups. Adults can join faith exploration groups, a book club, a grief group and a health and wellness ministry, and music and the arts play a large role, including concerts in Ripley Chapel. Service work includes outreach grants, volunteering at The Dwelling Place, a Repair Cafe, and a multigenerational service-learning trip to Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

What to Know

• Sunday worship is held in the sanctuary and streamed live on YouTube.
• Ripley Chapel also hosts Divine Yoga sessions.
• The church holds a Jazz Blessing of the Animals on the Town Common.
• The congregation produces a podcast called Voices from the Pews.
• Church space can be rented, and it hosts weddings, baptisms and other ceremonies.