Back in the 1960s when Calvary Church in Stonington began its Lenten Luncheon fundraiser, church members veered away from the standard Friday night fish fry to fill a hole in Stonington Borough: a Monday meal.

Carole Barnard, co-president of the Episcopal Church Women, said the founders of the luncheon started it on Mondays because restaurants in the borough at the time were closed on Mondays. Fifty-one years later, Lenten Luncheons are the church’s biggest fundraiser.

Lenten meals are a longstanding tradition for many parishes in New London County, with both Calvary Church and St. James Episcopal Church in Preston celebrating the 50th anniversary of their meals in 2015.

The Rev. Ron Kolanowski said the Preston fish fry was started as a fundraiser for a new parish hall after the old hall burned down in 1965, and the church has been doing it ever since.

Kolanowski said fasting is one of the acts of repentance in the Christian tradition in addition to prayer and alms-giving. Fasting on Fridays during Lent is a way to honor Jesus’ sacrifice on Good Friday, he said. Most Lenten meals are seafood-based because the historical fast banned meat and other animal products such as eggs and dairy. But more relaxed practices eventually allowed fish because they are cold-blooded.

Mike Barney, who serves on the board of directors of the Portuguese Holy Ghost Society in Stonington, said their dinners started in 1995 with fish and chips and Rhode Island-style clam chowder. Since the borough had a strong fishing industry, many members of the club were fishermen and would occasionally bring in some of their catch to contribute to the Friday fry.

Like the Portuguese Holy Ghost Society, the best-seller at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Gales Ferry is fish and chips, but daily specials always sell out as well. Greg Morea, who has been running the fish fry for three years, said volunteers have made baked salmon, crab cakes and other specials, all from local seafood. The church also offered free soup at its Feb. 5 opening after a snowstorm left more than half of Ledyard without power.

For people looking for other fare, Calvary Church also serves non-seafood meals such as turkey tetrazzini and pasta with sausage and meatballs.

Some of the most popular dishes at St. James church are the homemade desserts, including creme de menthe brownies and a pineapple cake that Kolanowski said is ordered by one family every week for take-out.

Many of the tried and true dishes no longer have recipes as volunteers eyeball the measurements, but following are some dessert recipes.

Creme de Menthe Brownies

(Recipe from St. James Episcopal Church)

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup margarine or butter

4 eggs

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp salt

16 ounces chocolate syrup

1 tsp vanilla

Mint Layer:

1/2 cup butter or margarine

2 cups confectioners' sugar

2 tbsp green creme de menthe

Chocolate Topping:

6 ounces chocolate chips

6 tbsp butter

Preheat oven to 350F.

Combine all brownie ingredients and mix well. Pour into a greased 9x13-inch pan. Bake for 30 minutes and cool.

To make mint layer: mix together butter, confectioners' sugar and creme de menthe with an electric beater until smooth. Add a small amount of milk if the mixture is too thick. Spread over brownie layer and cool.

To make chocolate topping: melt together chocolate chips and butter over low heat. Cool slightly and spread over mint layer.

Chill and cut into squares.

Pineapple Cake

(Recipe from St. James Episcopal Church)

2 cups sugar

2 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1 cup chopped nuts

1 20-ounce can of crushed

pineapple with juice

Icing:

1/2 cup margarine

8 ounces cream cheese

1 1/3 cups sugar

1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Stir all ingredients until well blended and pour into a greased and floured 9x13-inch pan. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes.

Beat icing ingredients until smooth and spread on the cake while still warm.

a.hutchinson@theday.com

Twitter: @ahutch411