An Early Rendering of the first Church.

1737 – 1783

The Episcopal parish now known as Immanuel St. James Church in Derby, Connecticut had its recorded beginnings in 1737. In that year, Captain John Holbrook and 6 other men, who desired to start an Episcopal Ecclesiastical Society, began to "fell the trees and hew the timbers preparatory to erecting a humble house of worship" in Derby. The frame structure was completed the following year, and, in common with other Anglican churches of the time, was called Christ Church until such time as it could be consecrated by a bishop.

Episcopal services were celebrated by itinerant missionary Anglican priests until 1748. In that year the Rev. Richard Mansfield became the first full time rector of the parish and held that post for the next 72 years until his death at the age of 96. The Rev. Mansfield's rector ship, in addition to being one of the longest in American History, was also an eventful one. During the Revolutionary war, as a Loyalist to the King, some of the local citizens forced the Reverend to flee to Long Island for safety. Returning later in the war, Dr. Mansfield became a loyal citizen of the new nation. In 1783, the year the peace treaty between the United States and Great Britain was signed, the Rev Dr. Mansfield was one of ten priests to meet at Glebe House in Woodbury, Connecticut to elect the Rev. Samuel Seabury as the first American Bishop of the Episcopal Church.