The History of Hartford Institute

The Hartford Institute was established at Hartford Seminary in 1981 under the name of the Center for Social and Religious Research. The founding of this organization formalized a research program started by the Seminary in 1974.

Its work is guided by a disciplined understanding of the interrelationship between the life and resources of American religious institutions and the possibilities and limits placed on those institutions by the social and cultural context in which they work.

Since its founding, the Institute has initiated more than 80 projects which were supported by over $16 million in external funding and has developed strong connections to local congregations, denominational structures and theological education institutions.

Its research findings have been published in books, articles, and news reports of every major news outlet, television network and many journals and magazines.