The Union Baptist Church

For almost 150 years the has gazed over downtown Mystic. The iconic white structure perched atop High Street is the subject of this week’s vintage photograph.

Provided by the , the photograph taken sometime between 1867 and 1870 is titled “Baptist Church, West Main Street, Mystic.” The Mystic Seaport and the Connecticut Historical Society describe photograph as a view, “of Union Baptist Church, West Main Street, Mystic, looking west. Houses can be seen along either side of the street leading up to the church.”

Professional photographer Everett Scholfield took the photograph which according to the Connecticut Historical Society has the words “E.A. SCHOLFIElD/Photographer,/ Mystic River, Ct,” printed on the back.

Parishioners gathered in the Union Baptist Church for the first time on September 1, 1861. According to the history of the Union Baptist Church Mystic the church was the combination of the Second Baptist Church which began in Fort Hill in Groton in 1765 and the third Church which formed in Mystic in 1831. In 1861 the two congregations and their buildings came together literally. In the History of Groton, 1705-1905, Charles Stark writes that the building of the third church was moved further back on the lot and teams of oxen brought the Second Church up high street and placed the building in front of the Third Church.

The church will celebrate 150 years on “Baptist hill” this year and today just as it did on the photograph from the 1860s the church continues to gaze over downtown Mystic.