The South Central Region is home to 27 parishes stretching along the Long Island Sound from Guilford to Milford and north to Oxford, Naugatuck and Cheshire. Within this area you will find major universities (Gateway Community College, Quinnipiac University, South Central, University of New Haven, Yale, Southern Connecticut State University and Albertus Magnus College.) You will also find some wonderful food, from pizza on Wooster Street to the Union League Café to Stowe’s Seafood in West Haven; and let’s not forget the Sundae House in Milford! You’ll find fine art museums, great theater, and strong health care services.
We value our rich legacy. It is an area steeped in history, including parishes founded prior to the Revolutionary War by the Rev. Dr. Samuel Johnson of Christ Church, Stratford as “house church(es)” in New Haven, North Haven, and West Haven, Derby, Milford, Guilford, Branford, and North Guilford. Johnson was also extraordinarily successful at converting and educating Yale students to the Anglican church. One of Johnson’s disciples was Samuel Seabury, a Yale graduate who was consecrated as the first American Bishop in 1784. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in New Haven is one of the oldest predominately African American congregations in the nation; one of its founding members was Alexander DuBois, grandfather of W.E.B DuBois the great African American historian and civil rights leader.
When many think of the South Central Region, they think of New Haven in general and Yale University in particular. While the draw to New Haven is strong we know that New Haven as a city, and we as a region, are more diverse. Disparities exist in our midst.
Right alongside many of the most educated, 12% of New Haven residents do not have a High School diploma. While New Haven is racially mixed, our suburbs are predominately white. Although “the Valley” of the Naugatuck and Housatonic Rivers was prosperous during the industrial revolution, a devastating Hurricane in 1955 altered the landscape and the economy. Many there struggle to find food.
In the midst of this diverse region – which also features great parks and access to the Long Island Sound – we as parishes see our mission as Joining God in moving from Jesus’ ideas to Jesus’ actions in all of our particular contexts. Specifically, Our mission is to discern prayerfully the movement of the Gospel by joining Jesus in our neighborhoods, by embracing growth through training and workshops, supporting old and new ministry networks and leaning into our region’s calling into youth and young adult ministries.
South Central Region Leadership Team
- The Rev. Heidi ThorsenTrinity on the Green, New Haven & Episcopal Church at Yale
- Lisa Whitney Yarbor, Co-convenerSt. Luke’s, New Haven
- The Rev. Matt LindemanSt. Peter’s, Milford
- David RiveraSt. Paul and St. James, New Haven
- Nancy Staniewicz, Co-convenerChurch of the Holy Spirit, West Haven
- Whitney BatsonGrace and St. Peter’s, Hamden
- Murray HarrisonTrinity on the Green, New Haven