On the afternoon of Sunday, June 29th, First Congregational Church hosted the 2025 Interfaith Service, part of Bristol’s Fourth of July celebrations every year. This event brings together clergy from the town’s houses of worship in a patriotic, multi-denominational prayer gathering. The service began with rousing bagpipe music from a Highland Piper, the Town Cryer, the trooping of the flag by uniformed members of the Bristol Train of Artillery, the Miss Fourth of July winners, town dignitaries and religious leaders marching down the aisle.
The Rev. Dr. Nancy H. Soukup, Settled Minister of First Congregational Church welcomed attendees, while Nikita Zabinski, Director of Music, and the church choir provided spirited music throughout the service.
Spiritual leaders from all of Bristol’s houses of worship joined in delivering a moving liturgy that explored the contemporary significance of our nation’s founding principles and spiritual beliefs.
The 2025 Interfaith Speaker was Father Robert Marciano who presently serves as Pastor of Saint Kevin Parish and school in Warwick and President Emeritus of Bishop Hendricken High School, Warwick. Father Marciano also serves as Chaplain to the Warwick Police and Fire Departments.
FCC is Bristol’s “founding church,” the establishment of which in 1680 enabled the founding of the town of Bristol in the same year. Rei Battcher, a Bristolian, historian, librarian, historical reinactor, and genealogist, and Rev. Soukup read the entirety of the Declaration of Independence, whose stirring text takes on added meaning in a time of challenge to our democracy.
During a reception following the service, FCC refreshments included a cake celebrating the successful completion of the church’s Fourth of July float, a “to scale” model of the historic 1856 sanctuary and bell tower. Rei Battcher provided insights on the role that FCC minister the Rev. Henry Wight played in Bristol’s Fourth of July celebrations.
Rev. Wight, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, led the way in establishing what are now known as “Patriotic Exercises” – back in 1785. These Patriotic Exercises focused on remembering, honoring and celebrating all that the Revolutionary War veterans had done in establishing our then new nation. Each year after 1785, on the 4th of July, Patriotic Exercises were held to honor the work of those who founded our nation. Rev. Wight himself was the Patriotic Speaker at the Patriotic Exercises for over 40 years. Each year, Bristol begins its famous parade with the Patriotic Exercises, which is why Bristol can claim the oldest 4th of July Celebration in America.