History

Star Bethlehem Church was established in 1932 in a small storefront at 23 Factory Street in Ansonia. The name was derived from a vision of a church with stars over it that came to Mother Rebecca Greene while the Greenes were still down in South Carolina. The first pastor was Elder Andrews of New Haven. Upon his homegoing, the husband of Mother Greene, Elder Richard Greene became pastor. In 1936, then Elder George Brooks became pastor for several years, until he was called to pastor Beulah Heights Pentecostal Church in New Haven in 1950. Elder Brooks later became Bishop Brooks. His sons, Theodore and Richard both pastor PAW churches in New Haven. Elder Brooks was replaced by Elder Jones, father of Bishop Noel Jones.

In 1953 Elder Jones left to pastor another church. Elder Eugene and Sister Dorothy Redd were sent out from Beulah Heights to become the new Pastor and First Lady of Star Bethlehem. Elder Redd was 29 years old at the time. They commuted by bus until they were able to find a home in Ansonia. In 1955 the little church on Factory Street was ravaged by the flood from Hurricane Diane. It was restored and continued to be the home of the church until 1957 when the building at 255 East Main Street was purchased. Six years later the East Main property was itself purchased by Ansonia for redevelopment. The property at 16-18 Lester was then acquired. Number 16 was a gray, multi-family dwelling. Sisters Freeman and Piper lived upstairs. Church was held in the storefront on the first floor while the present church was being built next door. After the new church was completed at 18 Lester Street, the old house next door was torn down to make way for the church parking lot.

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