The Ellington Congregational Church is in the middle of a year-long celebration of its 275th anniversary.

A celebration in June honored former pastors. One came from as far away as Tennessee. Those who have been ordained in the church were also honored.

“We had a service and a dinner,” said the church’s unofficial historian, Mildred Dimock. “Then we had a Power-Point show of the history of the church.”

In September, a Founders’ Day celebration welcomed 50-year members of the church. Sr. Pastor Don Bailey-Francois , and his wife, the Rev. Dr. Karen Bailey-Francois , dressed in colonial garb for the service, portraying a man who was a boy when the first minister came to the church.

Many members of the anniversary commission are able to tell of the church’s storied history, although none moreso than Mildred Dimock.

The current building is actually the fourth to be home to the church, after the first pastor, Rev. John McKinstry, held services in his home. “The first church stood in the town park,” said Dimock . That was built in 1739. In 1806, they built a church in the church park, across the street [from the current building ].”

The third was built on the current site, in 1868, because the congregation had grown so much in size. That church was destroyed by arson in 1914. In those days, the church bell was rung to signify that there was a fire, and no one could reach the tower to toll the bell, so the building burned to the ground.

The current building, utilizing the former’s foundation, was dedicated in 1916.

Dimock has also been including tidbits of the church’s history in the weekly announcement bulletin all year long.

The biggest marking of the anniversary is the Labyrinth Memorial Garden, a place for contemplation and prayer. “That’s one of the things that will be a lasting legacy,” said committee member Carolyn Ladd.

The design process began in February . Soon after, the fundraising effort began.

Engraved river rocks, that will line the circle around the labyrinth, were sold to local families. The stones are engraved in the memory of family members, or whatever message is wished.

The members were careful to make a distinction between a maze and a labyrinth . “A maze is designed to fool you, trick you, confuse you and trap you,” said Dawn Stone. “A labyrinth is designed to let you work your way into a center place. You can’t get lost, you can’t get trapped. It’s a meditation process. When you get to the center, you’ve reached your core, or your goal.”

The concept is an ancient one, and the original is in the Chartre Cathedral in Paris, France, which holds the Rosetta Stone in the center.

“We have the same design,” said Ladd. “but not as large as theirs.”

The center of the Ellington labyrinth will have four wooden logs on end, suitable for sitting and meditating.

The entire 800-ft . path will be accessible to those with difficulty walking. “The reason we don’t have as many turns as some labyrinths this size is we made the paths wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair or a walker,” Ladd said.

The path will lead around the side of the church, and along an outdoor classroom , planned for the future.

In a sense, the anniversary celebration is also a celebration of the congregation itself.

“We have a true cross-generational congregation,” said Stone. “You have people in their nineties , and people who haven’t hit three months, sitting in our Sunday service.”

“They are a family,” Ladd said. “There’s a real family feeling here. It’s a truly caring family community.”