To stay in step with God’s will and direction because this is God’s church; To seek God’s wisdom in every activity and venture; for one another in love; for church leaders.

We seek to maintain the unity of the church. When we don’t understand each other, we will seek to understand with humility. When we disagree, we will seek peace and not create factions. When we get anxious, we will take a deep breath and respond with grace.

We will relate to everyone with love and grace. We will choose listening and respectful conversation over anger and gossip. We will choose to forgive one another because we have been forgiven. We will seek to build each other up and not tear each other down.

Our congregation began in 1870 in New Britain, Connecticut, located about 15 minutes from its current location in Berlin, Connecticut. The congregation’s earliest iterations were as a Bible School led by John Smith and Professor D.N. Camp in Smith’s home. On April 4, 1884, a group of sixteen individuals gathered and organized a church. They rented a space over the local post office. They named themselves the Swedish Evangelical Bethany Congregation Church in New Britain. They adopted their constitution in May 1884 and their first pastor, Rev. J.M Ahnstrom, arrived from Sweden one year later. 

Within just a couple years, the membership of the church exploded as a massive influx of Swedish immigrants came to the area. These immigrants were seeking fellowship in a new land. Many of them needed the financial support of Christian community. The congregation was formed with the conviction that the best response to the Bible’s message about Jesus was a “Spirit-energized life” marked by fellowship and joy. The church became even more established with the purchase of their first building, sold to them by an American Methodist Congregation.

One of the congregation’s defining events was the purchase of their second church home on Franklin Square on April 3, 1921. The congregation became well-known to its community because of the building’s distinct architecture and central location in downtown New Britain. The 1920’s and 1930’s brought an important, but controversial shift, as the worship services began to be held in English, instead of solely in Swedish. After 75 years of worshipping at Franklin Square, the congregation had outgrown that space. Desiring to expand, especially in the area of Christian Education, they made the emotional decision to move and build a new church building on Mill St. in Berlin. This choice is remembered by elder members of the congregation as a moment they chose together to trust God. 

Throughout its history, Bethany Covenant Church has been characterized by a priority on Christian Education. As early as 1948, a daily Vacation Bible School was held during the summer with church buses traveling the streets of New Britain, picking kids up to participate. Their first Christian education director was hired in 1958 and there was a consistent effort to create adequate and proper space for classes. The first youth pastor was hired in the early 1970’s. The church was also characterized early on by a love of music. This is reflected in the significant funds poured into their first pipe organ in the Franklin Square church. In addition, the first Christmas candlelight service was held in 1928, which brought in many people from outside of the congregation.

Bethany Covenant’s history is preserved in its annual meeting minutes, in archive at the church. These records were heavily reviewed recently when the church went through the Vitality Pathway and a history report was compiled (2018). Many photographs of the church’s various meeting spaces and Confirmation classes have been well preserved. Bethany still has many eldery members who remember much of our history and pass it on verbally.