Church of the
GOOD SHEPHERD
Immanuel St. James Episcopal Church in Derby, Connecticut was built in 1842. Bell tower was added in 1854. Bell was first rung on July 4, 1867.
The Church of the Good Shepherd in Shelton, Connecticut. In 1872, the first Episcopal services of what would become Good Shepherd were held. The cornerstone of the church was laid in 1902 with the church being dedicated in 1907. In1957 fire destroys church and reopens in 1959.
Two long-standing Episcopal parishes are in the process of merging. Immanuel St. James of Derby will be merging with the Church of the Good Shepherd in Shelton. The process has begun, and so far, has been approved by the Standing Committee. Now, we await the vote at the Episcopal Church in Connecticut's 240th Annual Convention, October 25-26, 2024 for final approval.
​
If the merger is approved, the Parish shall be known as Good Shepherd Episcopal Church and Immanuel St. James Chapel and will worship at the Good Shepherd location in Shelton.
A Combined History
The possibility of establishing an Episcopal Church in Shelton was first considered during the winter of 1872, when the Rev. L. B. Baldwin, then rector of St. James' Church, Derby, held Sunday evening services for a small body of church people, on the west side of the Housatonic river. Mr. A. B. Ruggles, a resident churchman, and Charles H. Proctor, a divinity student, continued the work for some time. It is said that Mr. Ruggles conducted the first service in Shelton. These services were held in a building situated on the corner of Howe Avenue and Center Street.
While the work to form Good Shepherd continued on and off for several years, during the summer of 1888 the Rev. George H. Buck, Rector of St. James' Church, Derby, held services on Sunday afternoons.
On May 29, 1897, the Rt. Rev. John Williams, Bishop of the Diocese, authorized the formation of a Parish. The organization was affected under the name "Church of the Good Shepherd". The movement toward the building the Church was begun early in the year 1899. The corner-stone was laid with impressive ceremonies on June 14, 1902. The first service in the new building was held in the Parish Rooms, June 1903, and the formal opening of the Church occurred July 26 of the same year.
In December, 1957, when the Church of the Good Shepherd suffered a terrible fire destroying much of the church, St. James Church once again there for the parish providing a location for church services immediately following the fire.
With the merger, our congregations will once again be connected – this time our histories are permanently intertwined.