Center City Churches

Center City Churches was begun informally when the clergy of several downtown Hartford churches began meeting in 1965 to discuss better ways to minister to their changing congregations. In 1967, the eight congregations of St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal), First Church of Christ (Center Church, Congregational), First Presbyterian Church, Church of the Good Shepherd (Episcopal), Emanuel Lutheran Church, South Park Methodist Church and Central Baptist Church, founded Center City Churches for the Aging, Inc. (SPA). In 1969, these eight churches formed Center City Churches, Inc. The organization was governed by a Board of Directors comprised of representatives from the eight churches. The Rev. David S. King served as the first full time administrator.

Over the years, the agency created Connecticut’s first supportive housing program for people living with AIDS, Hartford’s first and only group home for adults with mental illness, Hartford’s first soup kitchen, Hartford’s only fuel assistance program for the working poor, Connecticut’s first and Hartford’s only weekend senior nutrition program, Hartford’s most comprehensive after-school tutoring and arts education program for elementary school children, six week summer programs for grades k – age 11, a year round children’s theater program, day care for children age 3 – 6 of employed parents, Center for Youth Resources (CYR) for teens, Friendship Center for alcoholic and lonely adults in the downtown area, and a healthcare screening and referral service.

In 2006, Center City Churches became the Hartford affiliate of the HandsOn Network. The agency changed its name to Hands On Hartford in 2007.