Stamford's second oldest church celebrated the 275th anniversary of its founding.

Parishioners marked the anniversary of St. John's Episcopal Church this weekend.

Ebenezer Dibblee, the founding rector of the church who served for half a century, endured persecution during the Revolutionary War. During the revolution, the congregation was forced to shut its doors.

“The friction with the mother country grew by 1775 when war started. To be a Church of England member was to be suspect as a traitor,” said Rev. Dr. James Wheeler.

The soaring structure was built around 1890 after its predecessors were destroyed by fire.