The Historic Campus
Ridgebury’s Historical Roots
Ridgebury’s history is deeply intertwined with the events of the American Revolution that helped shape our nation. In 1777, British troops passed through the area after burning Danbury, continuing through to Ridgefield for a key battle. By 1779, while the British occupied New York City, Ridgebury lay on the crucial connecting route between the Continental Congress in Philadelphia and New England. In September 1780, General George Washington traveled through Ridgebury with Marquis de Lafayette, Alexander Hamilton, and other key members of his wartime cabinet. The following year, as French forces advanced to join Washington’s army, generals Alexander Berthier and Rochambeau established camps in the area. The historic Meetinghouse and Benedict House still stand as enduring witnesses to these key moments.
Inclusion in Registers of Historic Places
The Ridgebury Historic District is listed on the State Register of Historic Places, stretching along both sides of Ridgebury Road from its northern border with Danbury to its intersection with Old Stagecoach Road. The historic Meetinghouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is part of the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route. The Benedict House is listed on the State Register of Historic Places.
This Historic Campus
The Meetinghouse sits on land rich with history, providing a unique context for how we bridge traditional ministry and the formation and equipping of prosocial leaders.
- The land on which The Meetinghouse and Commons stand was “purchased” from the Ramapo-Munsee Lunaape Indian Nation in 1708. In recommitting to the land, we recognize the unique and enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories, and seek to learn from them as we honor our responsibility as stewards.
- Near the crossroads, a pivotal battle was fought for this nation’s independence, today calling us to honor our interdependence.
- Also in the area, there is a site of a stop on the Underground Railroad, pressing for social justice.
These roots echo forward in history, continuing to shape our footsteps and our mission.
The 5.65-acre campus includes several historical buildings: The Meetinghouse (circa 1760), the Benedict House (circa 1777), and annex buildings such as the Martinsen Barn, Shields Hall Gallery, and Wellness Center. These structures, standing at the crossroads of Ridgebury Road and George Washington Highway for over 250 years, have been central to the community’s decisions, shaping both Ridgefield and the broader region.
As a community innovation hub, we serve as a space for:
- A Third Place: A welcoming spot for the community to gather at the Market Café in the Martinsen Barn.
- The Arts: A space to nurture creativity through visual, performing, written, and musical expression.
- Open Space: Includes wetlands, wooded groves, and peaceful areas to reflect and connect.
- Wellness: A sanctuary for re-centering the body, mind, and soul.
- Wisdom Formation: Fostering consciousness for 21st century leadership.
We believe our flourishing is interconnected—that people and the planet thrive together, or not at all. Our goal is to provide:
- A Leveler: A space where socioeconomic status is irrelevant.
- Leadership Opportunities: Supporting the growth of tomorrow’s leaders.
- Context for Meaningful Inquiry: A place to frame and explore life’s big questions.
- A Brave Space: A supportive environment where people can be, belong, and become.
Through these values, we bring diverse communities together and encourage collaborative interaction.
Learn MoreLearn more about each building on our campus
The Historic Meetinghouse
Then
Now
If you live in Western Connecticut, chances are you’ve driven past The Meetinghouse in Ridgefield, which has stood at the crossroads of Ridgebury Road and George Washington Highway since 1760. This small, wood-frame Greek Revival structure, built on an older foundation, has an inviting façade with tall windows that allow light to flood the interior. The entrance is framed by pilasters and an entablature with a cornice.
From the start, The Meetinghouse has served a dual role as both a house of worship and a place of public assembly. If these walls could talk, they would tell stories of:
- Town Meetings: Where votes were taken to send a representative to the first Continental Congress and, later, to join the Revolutionary War.
- Distinguished Visitors: Conversations with figures like George Washington, Jerome Bonaparte, and General Rochambeau.
- The French Troop Encampment: In 1781, 6,000 French troops encamped here on their way to Yorktown to help secure American independence.
- The Amistad Case: The church’s critical involvement in the national drama surrounding the Amistad captives.
- The Underground Railroad: The role it played in supporting freedom efforts on Neds Mountain Road.
- Community Faith: The enduring importance of faith in caring for the community.
The Benedict House (Circa 1777)
Then
Now
Across the street stands the historic Benedict House, home to a dramatic moment in Ridgebury’s history. British troops fired upon the house after a female member of the Benedict family opened a window and told them to “go home.” Today, the house serves as the residence of the campus director. The Benedict family played a key role in the area’s Revolutionary War history. Benjamin Benedict (1678-1773), Timothy Benedict (1709-1791), and Gamaliel Benedict (1760-1835) all lived here, with 63 members of the Benedict family buried in Ridgebury Cemetery.
Benjamin Benedict, a leader in the Ridgefield Militia, was confirmed as Captain of the local train band by the General Assembly in 1732. Timothy Benedict, who served as a Captain in the British Army during King George’s War, later sided with the American cause, recognizing the injustice of English rule. Gamaliel, who was 21 when Rochambeau’s troops passed through Ridgebury, served as a sergeant in the Connecticut Continental Army and participated in several key engagements.
The Martinsen Barn (Circa 1777)
Then
Now
Once a sheep barn, the Martinsen Barn housed a preschool for 44 years. In 2024, it was fully renovated to house a Market & Café, where the community now gathers to enjoy coffee and food.
The Wellness Center
The Wellness Center was established in the Fall of 2024. Offerings include yoga, Pilates, meditation, and more, seven days a week. Monthly workshops are led by guest instructors. See our list of current offerings here.
Shields Hall
Then
Now
Shields Hall, located in a restored garage, is the last building awaiting renovation. It currently hosts a community gallery, offsite spaces, and a kitchen.
Our Commitment
We are Ridge-bury.
We serve at the crossroads between Ridgefield and Danbury, offering a unique perspective and opportunity to nurture intersectoral relationships, given the distinctives of each community—one affluent yet progressive, with little diversity; the other multicultural, representing a wide diversity of peoples, economically, socially, and politically. The Meetinghouse draws from both communities, offering opportunity for dialogue, wisdom, and collaborative partnership.
Our work is grounded in the belief that collective impact demands multi-sector partnership.
We invite you to connect to the land, find creative expression and deepen sustainable practice as together we serve as caretakers of the future.
We are dedicated to the care of both the environment and the community.
To ensure the ongoing work of holistic wellbeing, regenerative practices, and wise leadership, along with the preservation of this historic campus, the Ridgebury Meetinghouse, Inc., a separate 501(c)(3) organization, was established in 2024. Donations of any size are welcomed to support this ongoing work.
We are thankful to the Ridgebury Congregational Church for entrusting us with the stewardship of this mission and campus.
1620 | Pilgrims seek spiritual freedom
Seeking spiritual freedom, forebears of the United Church of Christ prepare to leave Europe for the New World. Later generations know them as the Pilgrims. Their pastor, John Robinson, urges them as they depart to keep their minds and hearts open to new ways.
1708 | Ridgefield Founded
The seventh town in Fairfield County
1700 | An early stand against slavery
Congregationalists are among the first Americans to take a stand against slavery. The Rev. Samuel Sewall writes the first anti-slavery pamphlet in America, “The Selling of Joseph.” Sewall lays the foundation for the abolitionist movement that comes more than a century later.
1737 | Land Purchase
Ridgefield Town Meeting allows Ridgebury to build a pond on a tract of land laid out for a meetinghouse.
1810 | First foreign mission society
America’s first foreign mission society, the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions (ABCFM) is formed by Congregationalists in Massachusetts.
1812 | First foreign missionaries to India
ABCFM sends its first group of five missionaries to India, including Adoniram Judson and Luther Rice.
September 7, 1914
The church is incorporated as First Congregational Church of Ridgebury
1917-1918 | World War I
Connecticut’s defense industry provided munitions and other supplies to the troops African Americans came North to fill jobs, but often faced discrimination.
2005 | Marriage equality
On July 4, the General Synod overwhelmingly passes a resolution supporting same-gender marriage equality. UCC General Minister and President John Thomas says that the Synod “has acted courageously to declare freedom, affirming marriage equality, affirming the civil rights of same gender couples…
2006
State of Connecticut recognizes Ridgebury Congregational Church as a major historical site on the Rochambeau 1781 march from Rhode Island to Yorktown
2025
The Meetinghouse Market opens
