FCC Staff
Pastor Chris Heintz, interim minister
Paula G. Albertsson, Administrative Assistant
Linda Hueckel, Music / Choral director, pianist & organist
Amy MacDonald, Church Sexton
Rosanna Moran, Handbell Choir Director, the tall spire ringers
Natalie Philpot, Sunday School Leader
Our Purpose:
This Congregation yearns
to live by and share
the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
into our church, our community, and our world.
Our Vision:
By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, our Church aspires to be
a Body of Christ that is God’s beacon of Christian Faith, Hope, and Love
welcoming and serving all: believers, searchers, skeptics, the marginalized, the
broken-hearted, the confused, the lonely, the children, the young, the old.
Our Mission:
Living the love of Jesus Christ together in all our ways.
FCC - A Brief History
First Congregational Church of Manchester, established in 1784 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is one of the most iconic churches in New England. "The Tall Spire" of the church's beautiful white Victorian architecture rises majestically before the Green Mountains and is the featured subject of many Vermont postcards.
c. 1784 FCC is "gathered" and services are held at town meeting house
c. 1870: $23,000 was raised by members and friends for a new church. Franklin Orvis donates generously to ensure that the new church with a 150 foot steeple are built to be enjoyed by his Equinox House guests.
c. 1929: a new organ was donated and installed, along with choir pews, a lectern at the south and a pulpit at the north of the sanctuary, along with the "Nativity Window," the rose window and the stained glass windows.
c. 1960: gift of the current three-manual organ was made, one of the largest in New England
2007: Atrium entrance and elevator to three floors are completed
2016: The "Friends of the Tall Spire Steeple" campaign results in the reinforcement of steeple interior and its outdoor painting