CLINTON AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH
Ansonia, CT
What We Believe
There is but one living and true God...
of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness. In unity of this Godhead there are three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ, the Son, is God in the flesh - fully human and fully divine....
He was crucified, died, and buried, to reconcile humanity to God, and to be a sacrifice for the sins of mankind. He rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven, waiting for the day when He will judge all humankind.
The Holy Spirit is God.
All the divine attributes ascribed to the Father and the Son are equally ascribed to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit instantly resides within every person who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit is a comforter, a teacher, guider, and helper. The Holy Spirit enables every believer to live lives filled with the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
The Holy Bible has all information necessary for salvation...
and living a life of holiness and righteousness. The Old and New Testaments both point toward Christ as the savior of the world.
All people have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
There is nothing that any of us can do to earn salvation. It is only through God’s grace, by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, that we are able to enter into right relationship with God. Only by faith that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, died for our sins, and was resurrected on the third day, can we be saved.
Church History
Almost one hundred, forty years ago, in 1875, a small group of consecrated men and women organized what was called Zion Mission. The early meetings were held in a Hall over J. P. Swift’s Store, later Pucella’s Garage, at the corner of New Haven Avenue and Gilbert Street in Derby, Connecticut. This Hall had previously been used as a lecture room by the First Congregational Church of Derby for many years. Among the early founders were: Chauncey Coggswell, Mary Agnes Curtis, Ada Jones, Ann M. Lee, Giles Lennon, Charles Marlowe, Louise Simmons, Isabelle Starks, and Sandy Wasington. The first recorded pastor of the church was the Rev. William Stevens, who came from New Haven, CT. By 1882 full affiliation with the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church took place.
As the Town of Derby grew, so Zion prospered and grew beyond the confines of its small meeting place. So impressed with the fine leadership of Rev. J. J. Clinton, and proud of his elevation as one of the church fathers, the church adopted his name and became incorporated as Clinton Memorial in 1888. During this same year, a new eddifice was built on Derby Avenue. From 1891 to 1924 little is known in detail except that there continued to be activity and prosperity and Clinton A.M.E. Zion Church attained a place of high respect in the community which has continued throughout the years.
For some time, an idea had been growing in the minds of many of the church people that because the majority of the Negro people lived in Ansonia, this church could be of greater service if it moved to that city. The township of Ansonia began to grow rapidly and the population of the Negro people increased as well. The demographics of this situation persuaded the congregation to move its location from Derby to Ansonia. It was felt that this would best serve the needs of the people.
Once again, Clinton is on the way to making significant steps forward. Rev. Maness is the first female to pastor this church. She arrived with a new vision for tomorrow. “Bridging The Gap! - Honoring our past while embracing the future.” With that as our vision, we are moving forward into our future. Plans are currently underway to build a New Clinton, while remembering those who paved the way for us.
The church continues to grow spiritually and financially, even in the midst of difficult times.