Our Church
Stowe Community Church—Past & Present
Stowe Community Church was formed in 1920 when four existing religious groups joined together as a single entity. They chose the 1863 Universalist Church to be their building of worship, and the c.1850 Congregational Parsonage as the sole minister’s residence. In doing so, they created one of the first non-denominational churches in the United States.
What is a Non-Denominational Church?
A non-denominational church is one that, although Christian, is not affiliated with or subject to the regulations of, a specific religious denomination, or structure. Instead of being, for example, a Catholic or Episcopal church, it operates as an independent entity. This allows for greater flexibility and adaptability in its approach to worship, doctrine, community, and Christianity as a whole. At Stowe Community Church, many faiths are represented within our community. We focus not on our differences, but on our commonalities in the pursuit of spiritual growth and community service.
Community Churches in Vermont History
Community churches were not new to Vermont. But in the past, a single church building served multiple denominations—each with their own minister and structure. In Stowe, a plot of land was designated in 1818 for the construction of a building for use as both a church by all religious groups, and as a hall for civic meetings. For 40 years, various denominations worshipped in this church until they were able to build their own. The Congregationalists built their church in 1839, the Methodists in 1841.
The Universalists eventually secured title to the community meeting house, moved the building to a new location, and built their own church in its place. A stunning example of a monumental Greek Revival meeting house, it was completed in 1863 at a cost of $12,000. Character-defining features included the pedimented portico with its four fluted Ionic columns, paneled entrance with flanking windows, and multi-tiered tower crowned by a tall spire. An organ, a tracker type possibly built by innovative Massachusetts organ-maker William B. D. Simmons, was purchased and shipped from Boston the following year. This is still operational today.
In 1920, the Universalists, Congregationalists, and Methodists—along with several members of the Baptist Society—agreed to merge into a single organization with one minister, thus forming one of the nation’s earliest non-denominational churches. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic places in 1978, as part of the Stowe Village Historic District.
History of Stowe, VT and the Community Church Building
Stowe’s history spans some 200 years, and in that time it’s experienced an enormous amount of growth and change. This has resulted in a rich diversity of architectural styles and building types, including Federal, Greek Revival (such as the Stowe Community Church), Queen Anne, Italianate, Second Empire, Gothic Revival, Colonial Revival, and Neo-Classical Revival.
On the exterior, the Stowe Community Church appears much as it did when first built, despite some restoration work in 1959 by Burlington architect Eugene Alexander. Inside, an altar painting thought to be the work of Philip Butler, who painted a similar fresco in the Morrisville Church, is no longer visible. A Renaissance-inspired, illusionistic work, it was painted over in 1922
Stowe Community Church Today
Our church is a little different from other Protestant churches in rural Vermont, since it’s in an internationally-recognized resort community. Because of this, we’ve drawn visitors from many different communities, cultures, lifestyles, and religious denominations.
As an independent, non-denominational, fully-affirming congregation, we welcome all individuals, families, traditions, religions, and walks of life, including the LGBTQ+ community. We welcome all ethnicities, cultures, backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions because we believe that God graciously accepts and welcomes each of us as children of God.
We seek to be a community where individuals commit their time and resources to education, fellowship, and helping those in need—both in our immediate church family and the world at large. We’re guided by the belief that when we listen and learn together, we build a more beautiful, resilient community. Our members hail primarily from Lamoille County and surrounding areas, but we have a growing national congregation in our virtual community.