Stratford Church Closes After More Than 50 Years

STRATFORD, CT — After more than 50 years of growing community and faith, St. John the Baptist Orthodox Christian Church has shut its doors.

Church leaders cited decreasing membership and restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic as the reasons for the closure, which occurred at the end of December.

“Please remember the spiritual nourishment and social good times that you have had here over the past 53 years,” said a note from the parish Board of Officers posted on the church’s website.

The St. John’s community in 1966 purchased the church property at 600 Silver Lane, according to the final parish bulletin.

“It took an entire group of blessed people to build our beautiful St. John’s,” Parish President Carole Krochta said in a message included in the bulletin.

Krochta looked back fondly on the church’s many activities, such as Bingo nights, bowling leagues, tag sales and church camps. In his own bulletin message, presiding priest the Rev. Michael Macura shared Krochta’s nostalgia.

“The memories I have of Baptism after Baptism of the children I would watch grow up, mature in the faith and go off to college fill me with joy,” he said. “I am sad that St. John’s is closing its’ doors, but I am also glad about having had the opportunity to serve you for almost 18 years and I consider all of you as my family.”

The nearest churches that share St. John's association with the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese are also named St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church and are located at 1240 Broadbridge Ave. in Stratford and 364 Mill Hill Ave. in Bridgeport.

Now that the church has closed, the property where it sits is for sale. The 2.2-acre lot is priced at $900,000. A listing on Realtor.com touts the nearly 2,000-square-foot, three-bedroom home on the property, and notes the lot can be subdivided. The 4,200-square-foot church, its parking lot and a nearby wooded area would also be included in the sale.