Pride Flag Torn Down From Historic Windsor Church

WINDSOR, CT — A Pride flag was torn down from the front of First Church in Windsor last week, prompting the church’s senior minister to condemn the incident and promise that the flag will be replaced.

The Rev. Dr. Ned Allyn Parker addressed the incident in an open letter posted Tuesday. He said he believed the flag was removed to intimidate the church or silence its message of support for LGBTQ+ people.

“When a symbol of welcome is torn down, the message sent to LGBTQIA+ people is that their dignity is negotiable,” Parker wrote.

First Church displays the flag as a sign that LGBTQ+ people and others who have felt excluded are welcome, Parker said. He added that the congregation prayed Sunday for whoever removed it.

The church traces its history to 1630 and describes itself as the country’s longest continuously worshipping Congregational church. Parker said it was also among the first 100 Congregational churches in the United States to become Open and Affirming of LGBTQ+ people.

Parker said he has encountered far more kindness than hate during his time in Windsor but urged the community not to remain silent when acts of intimidation occur.

He noted that the letter represented his personal views and was not an official statement issued by the church.

“We will replace the Pride Flag. We will keep welcoming,” Parker wrote.

Patch has reached out to the Windsor Police Department to determine whether the incident was reported and whether police have identified a suspect.

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