St.Paul's Willimantic

Welcome to “St. Paul's Willimantic” - the website of our small, poor Episcopal Church. Our community is very diverse, open and welcoming. We don't own real estate and mostly worship in a stone church (with a real bell in the tower) that we once did own. It's at the bottom of the hill, at the corner of Valley and Walnut streets.

Back in 1981 we founded the Covenant Soup Kitchen and its associated Isaiah 58 Ministry. The Soup Kitchen grew dramatically - and by 2006 it became an independent 501(c)3 organization. Then, on December 30, 2008, the Soup Kitchen also became the owner of St. Paul's real estate.

Not owning real estate lifted a significant burden, and as a result allowed us to put our energy where it belongs - into ministry. More churches should try it! That ministry is both to the people who formally or informally are part of our parish as well as to the people of the communities that surround us. All of our neighbors - from ECSU at the top of the hill to the people next door, the halfway houses across the street and the soup kitchen downstairs - as well as our more distant neighbors from surrounding towns - are welcome to join us.

We offer a healing community to all, a place where it's safe to be yourself, where there won't be any religious tests or coercion. Troubled or serene? Transgendered, lesbian, straight, gay or other? Eat at the Soup Kitchen? Have a good job or perhaps you're in school? Out of work? Maybe (un)comfortably retired? Geek, technology challenged, or somewhere in between? Addicted to something, nothing, or a lot of things? You'll find understanding, support, healing, God's light and love at St. Paul's! Wherever you are in your life's journey, you – and the gifts you'll bring to the community – will be welcomed.