Campton Congregational Church

Covenant at Campton Congregational Church in Campton, NH

About Us

The congregational church is a descendent of early worship in New England. Although this church is a member of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches, each church in the association creates its own covenant of beliefs. This congregation's covenant beautifully expresses its beliefs and purpose.

Who We Are

“A Bible-based gathering of people who love Jesus and seek to follow Him.”

Who are we?

 

     We are people of The Book, the Bible.  We love Jesus and seek to follow Him.  Congregational describes not only how we organize and govern our fellowship; it’s also our way of church life.

 

     Our way is the way of the covenant.  While other historic forms of church life have hierarchical structures of authority (a pope, cardinals, bishops), and tests of faith (creeds, confessions, or statements), or rules and regulations for discipline and compliance, our way is The Way of the Covenant.  Its theological foundation is set forth in the words of Jesus: “For where two or three come together in My name, there am I with them.”

 

     For we Congregationalists, this has stood as the one fundamental agreement between Jesus and His people; to those who come together in His name, even if only two or three, He will come and be in their midst.  It is Jesus’ presence among us, not a pope or bishop or anyone else, which gives authority and order to our gathering and fellowship.  It is His presence that exercises discipline, and keeps our faith true to Him.  Jesus never said, “Agree to these items of theology and you are in.”  His word was, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

 

     A covenant is an agreement or promise, usually formal, between two or more people or groups to do or not do something specified.  Our Campton Congregational Covenant is an agreement between the members of the church, and by extension those who gather and worship and fellowship with us, under the headship of Jesus, for how we will live out our lives of faith together, what we will owe to one another, what our relationships will be.  It describes who we believe God is, and what we understand to be His plan and purpose for us, individually and as a congregation.

 

Campton Congregational Covenant

 

     We believe in God the Father, infinite in wisdom, goodness, and love; and in Jesus Christ, His Son and our Lord and Savior, who for us and our salvation lived and died and rose again, and lives evermore; and in the Holy Spirit who takes of the things of Christ and reveals them to us, renewing, comforting, and inspiring the souls of men and women.

 

     We are united in striving to know the will of God as taught in the Holy Scriptures, and in our purpose to walk in the ways of the Lord, made known to us or to be made known.

 

     We hold it to be the mission of the Church of Christ to proclaim the Gospel to all humankind, exalting the worship of the One True God; and laboring for the progress of knowledge, the promotion of justice, a reign of peace, and the realization of the brotherhood and sisterhood of all humanity.

 

     Depending as did our founding families, upon the continued guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth, we work and pray for the transformation of the world into the Kingdom of God; and we look with faith for the triumph of righteousness and the life everlasting.

 

     We agree to maintain the institutions of the Gospel, to submit ourselves to the orderly administration of the affairs of the Church, and to walk together in brotherhood and sisterhood and love.

Church History

Campton Congregational Church has a rich history of faithfulness and spiritual perseverance. 

 

It was at a town meeting in 1773 at the home of Col. John Spencer, now the Col. Spencer Inn located on Route 3, that it was voted to choose a committee to procure a minister to preach the next summer.  On June 1st 1774, Campton Congregational was organized.  The church first met in log cabins and private homes.  Eventually, two parishes were established, one on each side of the Pemigewasset River.  It wasn’t until a bridge was built on the Blair property that the two parishes were united; the West Side Meeting House was disassembled and moved to its current location on the east side of the river in 1858.

Over the years, despite many challenges, both financial and historic, such as slavery (the church passed a resolution in 1839 recognizing slavery as a sin), the Great Depression, the American Civil War and World Wars, the congregation has persevered by God’s blessings.  Additions and improvements to the building have been made down through the years, such as the fellowship hall and Sunday school rooms in 1890, in-door plumbing and rest rooms, and a furnace to replace the wood stove.  In 1858, the whale oil chandelier, donated by G.W. Wyatt, was converted to electricity, as was the entire building.  Also in 1858, the church bell, which announces worship services each Sunday morning, was donated by Sylvester Marsh, who was born in Campton, and invented and developed the cog railway which brings passengers to the top of Mount Washington. 

 

On June 1st, 2024, we celebrated our 250th year of serving the community and beyond.  As we go forward into the future, we realize that we stand on the shoulders of the saints who have gone before us and seek to meet the challenges which lie ahead with as much faith and spiritual perseverance as did they.

Church In Campton NH Campton Congregational Church Raising chandelier

Our Leadership

We love our leadership team here at Campton Congregational Church!

Pastor Jeff Campton Congregational Church in Campton, NH

Jeff Robie

Pastor

Pastor Jeff spent 35 years working in the High Tech Industry, beginning with Digital Equipment Corporation and retiring from Hewlett Packard Enterprises in 2015.

Jeff Bio
Pastor John Campton Congregational Church in Campton, NH

John Whitney

Organist

John, our Music Director, brings a lifetime of expertise to our community. A Concord native, John and his wife Priscilla (who Is also a music professional), reside in Campton.

John Bio

Leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

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