Hippies, Zealots or Entrepreneurs - Connecticut’s Odd Sandemanian Religion

You’ve probably never heard of the Sandemanian religious order, despite the fact that it was active for nearly 200 years in Europe and America. Congregants were known as “kissites” for their nearly hippie-like practices at services. Yet, they were also quite strict – with a requirement to agree with church practices, or face excommunication. And, they produced some of the most successful businessmen of the 1700s and 1800s in Connecticut. Join Danbury history expert Bill Devlin, who’s also an expert on the Sandemanians, to hear how this fascinating religious sect saw its congregations in Newtown, Woodbury, New Haven and Fairfield all end up in Danbury, before the religion ultimately went extinct.