a church without walls
Church by the Pond
We're an "ecclesia ministry" in that we're a church without walls. Our services take place in an open space near the carousel in Bushnell Park, Hartford, and every Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. We proclaim the Word of God and celebrate the Holy Eucharist to whoever stops by.
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The services are open to all and that often includes people who aren't comfortable worshipping in a traditional church setting.
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The Liturgy
The liturgy is a shortened version of The Holy Eucharist Rite II from the Book of Common Prayer. It has been approved by the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut and the bishops have celebrated many times in Bushnell Park. To read the altar copy, click here and to see the participant handouts, click here. We hope you'll want to join this ministry of Jesus Christ. Let us know if you have a question or need information. Send us your comments on the contact page.
Our Clergy & Leadership
The Rev. Canon Rebekah Hatch
Rebekah works as the part-time Rector of St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Simsbury; part-time Dean of Formation for the Episcopal Church in Connecticut; and serves as the Honorary Seabury Canon to Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford. Otherwise, you'll find her parenting two children, playing the piano or binging a good British crime drama. She's always grateful for the gift of time with the Church by the Pond community.
The Rev. Joseph J. Rose
The Rev. Joseph J. Rose is the assistant rector of St. James's Episcopal Church in West Hartford. A native of the Pacific Northwest, Joe graduated from Yale with a Master of Divinity and a diploma in Anglican Studies. Before being called to St. James’s, Joe and his wife Heidi served as co-executive directors at Trinity Church Wall Street’s retreat center in West Cornwall, CT. At Trinity Retreat Center, his work included leading multigenerational retreats and camps, sharing in the preaching and liturgical life, and developing a creation care ministry that featured a Good News Garden farm and a sanctuary for rescued donkeys. He has also served at St. John's, New Haven, and received his Clinical Pastoral Education training at the VA Hospital in West Haven. Joe worked as a journalist for 23 years before discerning a call to the priesthood.
Who We Are & What to Expect
From 20-60 people typically gather for the service every Saturday regardless of the weather. Many are homeless and living in shelters. All come to hear God's Word, most seem to feel the comfort of the liturgies they learned as children, and nearly everyone participates in the sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood. Nearly 25 clergy from around the state participate. Most are deeply moved by the experience of serving God by serving the least of our brothers and sisters. They return, often with their parishioners who make and distribute 75 or so bagged lunches after the service. Try it. You'll like it.
The Rev. Rowena Kemp
The Rev. Rowena Kemp is the Rector at Grace Episcopal Church, Hartford, CT and the National Chaplain of the Girls’ Friendly Society USA. She previously served as the Assistant Rector at the historic Trinity on the Green in New Haven, CT and as a Presbyter in the Middlesex Area Cluster ministry of the Episcopal churches in Northford, Higganum and Killingworth, CT while continuing full-time employment with the Program of Applied Translational Research at the Yale School of Medicine. She is a native of the Bahamas who received her M.DIV. and diploma in Anglican Studies from Yale Divinity School and the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. She has served the Church By The Pond community in many ways since beginning her ministry in Hartford in 2016, but especially as our social media manager.