Plymouth Brethren Church Files Application to Build Stamford Meeting House on Former Long Ridge Swim & Tennis Club Site

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church has filed an application with Stamford’s Land Use Bureau for permission to build a new church on the site of a former country club in North Stamford. The plans call for a 546-seat house of worship, to be known as the Stamford Meeting House, at the old Long Ridge Swim & Tennis Club at 2517 Long Ridge Road. The project requires approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The old club closed in 2017, and the church acquired the 15-acre property in early 2024. Under the plans, the existing swim and tennis facility would be demolished and the new church built in its place.

The application follows a public information campaign that the church conducted late last year to introduce the project to the community. Church leaders organized a community meeting on the project in December, at which questions about traffic were raised.

In the recent submission, attorney Leonard Braman, who represents the church, said, “The project will have significant benefits to the neighborhood.” He said a “vacant and overgrown eyesore” would be replaced with new landscaping and greenery. Braman also argued that the site would generate traffic only on weekends, unlike the swim and tennis club, which brought cars in all week. “The comprehensive traffic analysis submitted with this application confirms there will be no negative impact on traffic,” he said, adding that the activity at the site would be “more in harmony with the neighborhood” than the club’s.

The church has about 100 local members who have gathered for worship since 1917. The congregation currently meets at a smaller location on High Ridge Road in North Stamford. In a statement on its website, church leaders said, “We look forward to introducing ourselves to the larger North Stamford community, connecting with neighbors, and addressing questions about our plans. Our congregation is committed to being good neighbors and citizens, and we are truly excited about building our new home on Long Ridge Road as members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church.”

The application has not yet been scheduled for review by the Zoning Board of Appeals.