Later in 1904, the new church applied to the Diocese of Connecticut and was accepted for regularization as a mission of the Diocese. St. Monica’s was to remain a mission for sixty-five years. In 1907, the Reverend Alonzo Johnson was appointed the first vicar of St. Monica’s. In 1908, we moved to our first building. Our first house of worship was a dilapidated church edifice, formally owned by Shiloh Baptist, at 127 Mather St in Hartford, where we worshipped for approximately 17 years, after which time the building was condemned.

Worship services relocated to Main Street at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, which was transitioning as a result of diminishing attendance and a changing ethnic population in the community. The members of St. Monica’s were allowed to use the Parish Hall of the church but not the sanctuary. The Bishop unfortunately decided to offer St. Thomas Episcopal to Union Baptist Church. In return, the Diocese would receive a small sum of money and St. Monica’s would assume possession of Union Baptist's smaller facility located at 31 Mather Street.

Since becoming a parish, a number of members of St. Monica’s have answered the call to ministry. The Reverend Canon Annikah Warren became the first African- American female ordained to the Episcopal priesthood in the State of Connecticut. She later was elected Canon in 1994 of Christ Church Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese.

St. Monica’s Episcopal Church and Complex is currently located at 31 and 41 Mather Street respectively in the Clay Hill section of Hartford’s North End. St. Monica’s is a predominantly Black middle-class-oriented parish. Its membership comprises approximately 80% Black West Indian and 20% African-American. Many of the parishioners are professionals, business persons and skilled laborers. Most are families and private homeowners. As a parish, we are a goal-oriented, purpose-driven church. Most members are inclined towards the aspirations and values of the middle-class however, we are committed to the Christian mandate and mission to our less fortunate brothers and sisters.

The last two decades, many urban churches have faced challenging neighborhood transitional issues, and so is St. Monica’s relationship as a visionary church in the midst of the North-End community, impacted by poverty. To that end St. Monica’s has designated some of its resources to make financial investments in a property at North Main Street under the St. Monica's Development Project. This development project is currently the home of 29 St. Monica’s Elderly Apartment Units (soon to be 59 units), and affordable single-family homes. Our vision and commitment to become an instrument of change in the North-End neighborhood impacted by poverty, has been partly realized. Now, we must add the House of Worship and accompanying Life Center to fully live-out our vision and mission statement begun in 1989.

In 1989, St. Monica’s Episcopal Church launched its Capital Campaign Building Fund to realize the building of our new church. Members of the church have been faithfully contributing towards this effort. The corporate goal is to build the church edifice in several phases; Phase I will be realized at a ground-breaking scheduled for March, 2007.

Over the last five years the membership at St. Monica’s has been declining due to a large elderly membership. Many have retired, relocated, and or died. There has also been a general lapse in attendance as a result of transitional issues. Notwithstanding these challenges and transitional affects, with God's help we are convicted to move forward. We have maintained programmatic outreach ministries, operational budget and building fund. It is our fervent commitment to ministry, i.e., "to feed the hungry, to visit the sick, to clothe the naked", and to support the Hartford community, via collaborative efforts, which has sustained us as a corporate body.

The Food Pantry continues to be open two days per week, and in collaboration with Hartford Rescue Mission meals are served daily to people throughout the community. Twice a month St. Monica’s Food Pantry Outreach provides a community luncheon for the less fortunate of the community. Annually, we participate in the Food Share 'Walk Against Hunger' to raise awareness and to sustain distribution programs of food to the poor. In the summer we offer a Vacation Bible School literacy program for children in the community to encourage them to stay in school and be successful in school.

As a corporate body, we are blessed to have church organizations such as the Harvest Committee, Episcopal Church Women (ECW), Brothers of St. Andrew, and Daughters of the King that pastorally assist in carrying out the mission of the church and provide financial and moral support to the pastoral ministries. In 2003 the Frances Cornwall Chapter of the Daughters of the King was formed. Moreover, we are committed to hearing and receiving God’s word by attending Christian Education classes every Sunday for the youth and adults. There is a Wednesday night Healing service and Bible study currently led by our interim rector, Fr. Tessman. We are a praying and hopeful congregation blessed by God’s grace to serve Him only, and to fulfill God’s purposes and plans "for such a time as this."

Vicars since becoming a Mission in 1904
1907 - 1914 Rev. Alonzo Johnson
1914 - 1917 Rev. William B. Suthern
1917 - 1923 Rev. Osmond Brown
1923 - 1928 Rev. John Freeman
1928 - 1963 Rev. Alfred M. Lambert
1963 - 1964 Rev. Charles Poindexter
1966 - 1973 Rev. Cyril C. Burke

Rectors since becoming a Parish in 1973
1973 - 1984 Rev. Dr. Cyril C. Burke
1985 - 1991 Rev. Jesse F. Anderson, Jr.
1993 - 2005 Rev. Himie Budu Shannon
2006 - 2007 Rev. Dr. Michael J.R. Tessman (Interim)

2007 - Present - Reverend Charles A. Davidson