Special Events - Share The Love
June 1, 2024 to June 8, 2025
Come “Share the Love” with us all through the year! See additional Share the Love events below:
Share the Love of History & Patriotism: Presentation by Walt Woodward
Sunday, April 6, 2025 | 4:30pm (sanctuary)
First Congregational Church of Stonington
Walt Woodward-The Burning Question About Nathan Hale Walter W. Woodward is Connecticut State Historian emeritus. He served as the State Historian of Connecticut and a member of the History Department at the University of Connecticut from 2004 to 2022. He was the fifth person to hold the position of State Historian, which was created in the 1930s in preparation for Connecticut’s 300th anniversary.
He retired in July of 2022, becoming Connecticut State Historian emeritus. Dr. Woodward is a scholar of Early American and Atlantic World history, with an emphasis on Connecticut and New England. His research interests cover a variety of subjects, including witchcraft, alchemy and the history of science, the use of music in Early America, environmental history.
Woodward is the author of five books, the most recent of which is Creating Connecticut: Critical Moments That Shaped a Great State (Globe Pequot Press, 2020). His book Prospero’s America: John Winthrop, Jr., Alchemy and the Creation of New England Culture, 1606-1676 (Omohundro Institute, University of North Carolina Press,2010) won the Homer Babbidge Prize from the Association for the Study of Connecticut History and was a Choice magazine Outstanding academic title.
Historians are hard pressed to account for the rough justice meted out to Revolutionary War spy and Connecticut state hero Nathan Hale. He was denied a court martial, hanged within a day of his capture, refused the attendance of a minister – even his final letters were opened, read, and left undelivered. In this lecture, taken from his new book Creating Connecticut: Critical Stories That Shaped a Great State (Globe Pequot Press, 2020), Walt Woodward argues that there is a direct connection between Hale”s treatment, and a fire that raged in New York City the night Nathan Hale was arrested as a spy.
Today, many people know that there is some question about whether state hero Nathan Hale said the words for which he is famous (“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country”) at the time of his hanging. A few also know that a recently discovered manuscript casts doubt on Hale’s truthfulness at the time of his capture as a patriot spy on Long Island in the late summer of 1776. But was there a connection between Hale and the great fire which nearly destroyed New York City the day before his capture?
In this lecture, Walt Woodward examines all these issues, especially the question as to whether Hale was an arsonist, and provides new insight into Hale’s life, death, and very real heroism.
This revision of a revisionist account of Nathan Hale’s life and death is an especially interesting subject for groups and organizations interested in the history of Connecticut’s participation in the American Revolution, or who want to know more about our state hero.
2nd Annual Share the Love Festival: Artists and Authors
Saturday, June 7, 2025 | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm (church grounds)
First Congregational Church of Stonington
Join us for the 2nd Annual 350th Anniversary Festival – featuring Authors and Artisans at The Road Church (First Congregational Church of Stonington) on Saturday, June 7, 2025! Activities include: artists exhibitions, authors of all genres, vendors, music, food trucks, and kid’s activities!
At this time, we're seeking authors of all genres and artisans of all mediums to showcase their work at this exciting community event! With professional marketing, on-site parking, food trucks, a photo booth, and games for kids, it’s a day you won’t want to miss.
Exhibit Time: 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Road Church, 903 Pequot Trail, Stonington, CT
Vendor Space: 10’x10’ (bring your own setup)
Registration: $15 per space (more for additional spaces)
Interested?
Learn more and register here: Download PDF
Questions? Contact Mary-Jane Cassidy at 860-912-7844.
Share the Love of Family & Friends: Founders' Day/PENTECOST Worship Service
Sunday, June 8, 2025 | 10:00 am (Sanctuary)
First Congregational Church of Stonington
We are asking that you wear RED to the service this morning
Details to come.