New Here?

The moment you come in you may see all types of people. Perhaps in suits and ties, or in jeans and a t-shirt. It does not matter what you wear. We want you to be comfortable. You will be welcomed as a special guest. As you enter, we'll give you a bulletin, a hymnal, and a Bible if you need it. If you have questions, feel free to grab Pastor Allen or anyone you see to get answers. We're looking forward to getting to know you. We are eager to welcome you and help you feel at home. Perhaps you will find this fellowship as just the right place where God would have you.

I am Bill Allen our pastor-teacher. I graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary in1974, majoring in Systematic Theology.

For almost 20 years (before Seminary), I was in industrial management in PA, IL, OH, and TX. This included teaching national seminars in major cities for several years.

Three states and four churches are in my Senior Pastor background. I've been with this fellowship since we began in `1984.

Writing has been one of my interests, with five published books and many booklets on the Bible. Check them out on the Book tab.

Peggy,my wife for more than 68 years of marriage (and counting) supplies the charm in our family & ministry.

We have four children, Melody in Arizona, Bob and Philip in Texas , & Lynn in Connecticut.

Sit wherever you like. You'll notice our seating is a bit unconventional. We have chairs, of course, but also tables to sit at, all placed in a rough semi-circle, so everyone is close to the speaker.

Bathrooms - up the two steps or take the ramp, to the right. These are handicap-accessible and well-equipped.

A well-equipped nursery room is available, as needed.

We have central air-conditioning , and both exterior and interior rampways for easy wheelchair access

After service, we gather on one or both levels for coffee, tea, and refreshments, but especially for a good time of fellowshipping.

We have a large library, as well as a table filled with devotional booklets, helps. Feel free to take home anything you like. We do ask you to return any books.

We teach the Bible, not just Bible stories or excerpts. We understand that the Lord gave us His Word to better equip each each of us for the work of ministry and reaching out to others.

The Bible is the Word given directly by God. It is not the thoughts of men about God or about religion, but is the source of truth: God, Man, Sin, Salvation, the World, the Flesh, and the Devil.

Pastor Bill normally uses the NKJV (New King James Version), but you may bring whatever version you wish. Do plan to use your Bible here. That's what we are all about.

Our objective is always to "be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)

We began as a Bible Study group in a home in December, 1983, and began to meet on Sunday mornings within a couple of months. We began calling ourselves "Bible Believers Fellowship." Bill Allen, recently back in Connecticut, was our teacher.

We moved to a rented schoolroom, then were offered the use of an historic old chapel in East Litchfield. We then adopted the name of Litchfield Hills Bible Church. We had no running water or regular toilet facilities, yet we grew rapidly, getting up to about 90 people.

In mid-2001, we purchased a facility in Winchester (Winsted), blessed with not just one, but two bathrooms! We sold the building in 2012 and leased our present 'home' in Torrington at 379 Goshen Rd.

We greately improved the interior with a lot of 'sweat equity' in cooperation with the owner. On the outside, it is just a nice-looking storefront, with parking, but inside it's very warm and beautiful. Pastor Bill continues up to this day as our first and only pastor.

We are a fellowship, with a 'nickname,' 'CHAPEL IN THE HILLS'. We operate with an Elder-run leadership, including Bill. These men are responsible for the spiritual and physical needs of our group. We have had Elder-rule from the earliest days.

Together we represent and seek to be a local manifestation of the ministry of the Lord Jesus, seeking to act and minister as He commanded. We don't have the normal trappings of a Church, nor do we seek to institutionalize ourselves as a church.

We do not live to serve and grow the institution. Our focus is not that of ministry to the local church, but as a ministry of Christ wherever we live and work. We're not working for our building or church administration, but for serving Christ individually and collectively wherever we can. In other words, our focus is not on 'church,' but on Christ.

We don't criticize other churches, or church practices and styles. We simply wish to function as a group of individuals gathered together to become fully equipped to do the work of ministry.