About Us

Our Mission

Making God's Love & Justice Real

We care for each other, inside and outside our church walls.

Following the Path as Disciples of Jesus

We provide inspiring educational, spiritual, and recreational programs for the community.

Being Agents of Change

We take a stand against social, racial, and environmental injustice and promote new ways of living more justly.

Testimonials

"I remember the first time on entering Eliot – there was a big bearded guy in bib overalls singing loudly, and an old dog who walked up the center aisle and then lay next to his owner’s wheelchair in the front pew. I said to myself, I think this church could work for me. Over time I had the opportunity to become involved in different work at Eliot and hear what others were doing; to see the kids learn and grow in a safe environment, and to see how members cared for each other."

– Patrick O’Reilly, part of Eliot for over 25 years.

"I found some moments during the service to be in prayer and was heart warmed to know that being at Eliot Church offered me that opportunity.

It is moving to me to find that space among you to quietly recite my healing Hebrew prayers for some family and others currently in need.

The pastor, the church leaders, and verbal welcomes from parishioners helped me to get to that place."

– Maxine

Eliot's History

Eliot Church cis rooted in the Congregational (Puritan) tradition in the United Church of Christ. Thirty-seven neighbors at Angiers Corner first established the church here in 1845. The present building is our fourth structure; we outgrew the original by 1860 and two other structures were destroyed by fires in 1887 and 1956.

The church was named for the puritan minister, Rev. John Eliot, who began his work as an "Apostle to the Indians" nearby.

Stained glass showing John Eliot as the Apostle to the Indians

Brief History of John Eliot

As Eliot's personal struggle for justice was sometimes controversial, so has been the history of this church. In its 150 years, Eliot membership has fluctuated considerably, sometimes reaching 1000 and other times dipping to 30 or 40 loyalists. Controversies have not been avoided, beginning with the issue of slavery and continuing through the civil rights movement and the debate over the war in Vietnam.

The Eliot Church of Newton, as part of the Congregationalist Movement in New England, united with three other denominations as one denomination, the United Church of Christ (UCC).