First Congregational Of Wallingford Hires New Settled Minister

Contributed article

WALLINGFORD, CT — The Rev. Jeffrey L. Birch — who goes by Jeff — has been named the new settled minister at First Congregational Church of Wallingford.

Birch was a pastor at First Church of Christ in Old Saybrook since August, leading worship services and handling pastoral care. He was ordained into pastoral ministry on Nov. 16 in a ceremony at Essex Congregational Church after being formally called to the Wallingford church in September.

“I am so excited and humbled to be called to First Church,” Birch said. “I’m very much looking forward to being a part of the all the amazing ministries they are doing in the Wallingford community, particularly the Wallingford Workcamp home repair initiative happening next summer, and the ongoing work they do with Master’s Manna.”

Birch will begin at First Congregational on Dec. 29 and give his first sermon as its minister on Jan. 4.

He succeeds Interim Minister Meredith Jeffers, who served at First Congregational for three years.

Birch was born in 1961 in Riverhead, N.Y., where his father was stationed at Suffolk County Air Force Base. Both of his parents were native New Yorkers, raised in Tioga County in the Finger Lakes Region.

The Air Force relocated the family to Custer Air Force Station in Battle Creek, Mich., in 1965. Birch grew up there, graduating from high school in 1979.

Though raised in an Air Force household, Birch’s heart belonged to the sea. He pursued maritime studies at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City, Mich., earning a degree in Applied Maritime Science and a Merchant Marine Officer’s License.

In 1985, Birch enlisted in the U.S. Navy, training as a Machinist’s Mate to operate nuclear submarine power plants. Over a distinguished 21-year career, he rose to Master Chief Petty Officer and served on both coasts — including two tours in Connecticut.

After retiring from the Navy in 2007, Birch joined Dominion Energy in Northeast Wisconsin as an operator and instructor. A later transfer brought him to Flanders, Conn., where he worked at Dominion’s Millstone Power Station until his retirement in 2019 as a first-line supervisor.

Heeding the call to Christian ministry, Birch enrolled at Lexington Theological Seminary in 2019 and graduated in 2024. A self-described church geek, Birch delights in every aspect of congregational life — from worship and outreach to Bible study and casseroles.

When not at church, Birch enjoys hiking, photography, cooking and good conversation.