Ashtanga New Canaan LLC, US

As the only African-American church in New Canaan, the Community Bapist Church of New Canaan has a rich tradition of autonomy. Originally it was a Methodist church, but two women from South Carolina who travelled to New Canaan in the 1930's changed that. They got involved in the church, and were going to be sent away to serve as missionaries. But they wanted to stay so they pushed to make the church Baptist, a denomination that wouldn't require them to go on missions. They succeeded. Members of this small church feel a tight sense of connection between each other. Every Thursday at 1 p.m. there is an adult bible study, and on the fourth Wednesday of every month church members sing at Waveny Park.