Black Rock Church in Fairfield, Connecticut has temporarily halted its renovation plans for the historic Easton Baptist Church building. The delay is primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has significantly impacted planning and fundraising efforts.
The ambitious project, intended to revitalize the Easton Baptist Church building, requires substantial renovations to meet current fire codes and address other necessary upgrades. A key challenge, according to Black Rock Church Executive Director Jeremy Taylor, is the limited parking capacity, with only about 20 spaces currently available.
The Easton Baptist Church, after serving the community for over 183 years, saw its congregation dwindle to just six members around 2014, ultimately leading to its closure. Black Rock Church assumed ownership in March 2015, initially offering religious services. However, despite these efforts, weekly attendance averaged only 12 people, hindering sustainable growth.
Services at the Easton location ceased in June 2018, prompting Black Rock Church to explore alternative uses for the property. In January, preliminary renovation plans were presented to the congregation, but the onset of the pandemic forced a postponement.
Looking ahead, Black Rock Church remains hopeful that as pandemic restrictions ease and a “new normal” emerges, they can resume their renovation efforts. The church aims to breathe new life into this historic building located at 29 Church Road, adjacent to Union Cemetery in Fairfield, CT. The community anticipates further updates on this project in the coming year.
