02/09/2026
Many Thanks to Bruce Hall, Rebuild Chair, for his continued, hard work on this project!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 9, 2026
Congregational Church of Thompson (CT) Receives Final Approval of $180,000 Connecticut Historic Restoration Fund Grant
Thompson, CT — This week the Connecticut Historical Preservation Council granted final approval of a $180,000 Historic Restoration Fund award to the Congregational Church of Thompson. The funding will support reconstruction of the rear wall, roof, and key structural elements damaged in the 2016 fire.
The Connecticut Historic Restoration Fund award is a matching grant and will be paired with funds already approved through a previously received $500,000 grant from the National Park Service, sponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy. The National Park Service grant is currently in final architectural review, after which funds may be accessed. The award approved this week was the largest issued statewide in 2025, with reviewers citing strong public benefit, thorough planning, and a high-quality application.
The award reflects the Church’s demonstrated readiness to proceed, including completed architectural planning, clearly defined project leadership, and the organizational capacity required to responsibly manage state and federal preservation funding. The submission consisted of more than 250 pages of documentation and plans prepared since June of last year.
A historic landmark in the center of Thompson for more than 170 years, the Congregational Church of Thompson is now moving into actual construction. With architectural work completed, a major federal grant secured, and additional funding underway, the project is firmly on track for Phase 1 bidding in late spring, with construction expected to begin in late summer.
With approvals secured and bidding preparations underway, the project is entering a critical ex*****on phase focused on maintaining momentum, cost control, and schedule integrity. The overall rebuild represents a $2.2 million investment, with approximately 40 percent of funding secured through state and federal grants and historic tax credits.
Beyond restoring the sanctuary, the project includes development of the Thompson Hill of Hope Center, which will support adult education, youth and senior programming, preschool services, concerts, and other community activities, continuing the church’s long-standing role as a center for civic and community life.
“This approval reflects years of thoughtful planning and continuous leadership stewarding the rebuild effort, along with a shared commitment to the congregation and the Thompson community,” said Bruce Hall, Rebuild Chair and member of the Congregational Church of Thompson. “The congregation has unanimously supported moving forward, and both federal and state agencies have provided funding after careful review of the plans for the project. With that work complete, we can now begin restoring the historic church as close as possible to what it once was.”
As with all major public preservation grants, the funding carries formal reporting and compliance requirements, underscoring the level of confidence placed in the project and its leadership by state and federal reviewers.
Architectural Firm: The architectural firm for the restoration is Evelyn Cole Smith Architects, LLC, led by Evelyn Cole Smith, an architect with more than 30 years of experience in historic preservation and community- focused design, including work for the Boston Museum of Science and Smithsonian Institution museums.
About the Project: The Congregational Church of Thompson rebuild is part of a broader effort to preserve the congregation, now nearing its 300th anniversary, and its historic legacy while creating new opportunities for sustainable community engagement. The project represents a significant public investment in Thompson’s historic and civic infrastructure and reflects years of coordinated work between the congregation, preservation professionals, and public partners.
Media Contact: Board, Congregational Church of Thompson, [email protected]
