The Third Century Society
Established in 2025, The Third Century Society recognizes and thanks those parishioners and friends who have made a bequest or similar legacy provision for Christ Church Pomfret in their estate plan. These forethoughtful Society members have demonstrated their commitment to sustain the work and financial health of the parish into the future.
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Parishioners and friends of the church who disclose their intention to provide an estate gift to Christ Church Pomfret before May 2028 will be acknowledged and honored as Founding Members of The Third Century Society. If you have already included Christ Church in your estate plans, please let us know so that we may thank you.
Christ Church Pomfret
Christ Church Pomfret was formed in May 1828 by a small but dedicated group of Episcopalians. A month later, at its Convention, the Diocese of Connecticut established this congregation as the “Episcopal Parish in Pomfret.” Services took place in a district school until Christmas 1829, when Holy Communion was celebrated for the first time in a newly constructed but unfinished church building. The plain clapboard structure, perched on a simple stone foundation, was officially dedicated and christened in May 1830.
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In the years that followed, this small but faithful congregation struggled to survive until the mid–1870s when summer people from Providence, New York, Boston, and Philadelphia discovered the charm of Pomfret. Prosperity was on the horizon. By 1882–1883 the new church building, as we know it today, was designed and built using locally sourced rubble fieldstone. Its interior was adorned with stained glass windows designed and created by artists Louis Comfort Tiffany, William J. McPherson, and Frederic Crowninshield who designed the chancel windows.
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Two centuries after its fragile beginnings, the people of Christ Church continue to worship God and serve the community where faith and real life intersect. Christ Church’s rich history and vibrant parish life have been supported by generations with the foresight to ensure the longevity of its mission. The endowment gifts of generous benefactors who have come before us, beginning with members of the Vinton family, have been critical to sustaining a spirit of fellowship and community in perpetuity.
Estate Planned Gifts
Estate gifts, like bequests, help to sustain critical programs, provide essential services, and enable the Church to continue its commitment to liturgy, preaching, study, and service to the community. For many donors, the most flexible way to endow their pledge or make a legacy gift to the Church is through their estate. You can provide for the Church through:
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A provision or codicil to your will
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An amendment to your revocable trust
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A designation of your retirement plan or life insurance policy
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A life income gift, such as a gift annuity or charitable trust
Estate Plans should be prepared by and with the advice of an attorney or financial professional to ensure that your intentions are carried out
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Bequests, life income gifts, and beneficiary designations may be:
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Designated for unrestricted use,
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Added to an existing endowment fund, or
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Used to create a new endowment in a priority area
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As you consult your attorney on the selection of appropriate language to reflect your own goals regarding Christ Church Pomfret, please also consult the Rector and/or senior warden to be certain your intention can be fulfilled.