Fairfield Presbyterian Church

Historic church in New Jersey, United States
Church in New Jersey, United States
39°22′52.8″N 75°13′16.2″W / 39.381333°N 75.221167°W / 39.381333; -75.221167Location53 Main Street Church Lane, Fairton, New JerseyCountryUnited StatesDenominationPresbyterian Church in AmericaPrevious denominationUnited Presbyterian Church in the United States of AmericaChurchmanshipEvangelical, ReformedWebsitefairfieldpca.orgHistoryFounded1680ArchitectureCompleted1850 (existing church),
1780 (Old Stone Church)AdministrationPresbyteryNew Jersey, PCAClergyPastor(s)Rev. Michael Schuelke
Old Stone Church
Built1780Architectural styleGeorgian, Builder GeorgianNRHP reference No.77000860[1]NJRHP No.1042[2]Significant datesAdded to NRHPMay 12, 1977Designated NJRHPMay 8, 1973

Fairfield Presbyterian Church is a historic Presbyterian Church in America congregation in the Fairton section of Fairfield Township in Cumberland County, New Jersey.[3] It was founded in 1680 when a log church was built on the banks of the Cohansey Creek, and it is the oldest existing congregation within the PCA, which it joined in 1980 after leaving the UPCUSA in 1971.[4][5] The log church was replaced by a New England style frame building sometime between 1713 and 1715.

In 1780, the Old Stone Church was built, which still exists a mile and half to the south of Fairton, and north of Cedarville, on County Route 553. The stone church was in use until 1850, when the present building in Fairton was completed.[6] It was documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1936.[7] The Old Stone Church has been preserved and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 12, 1977, for its architectural significance.[8]

In 2006 the church celebrated its 325th anniversary.[9] The church subscribes to the Westminster Confession of Faith.[10] The senior pastor Rev. Chris O'Brien, has served the congregation since 2022.[11]

Pastors

  • M. Bradnor (1680-1695)
  • Thomas Bridges (1695-1702)
  • Joseph Smith (1709-1711)
  • Samuel Exell (1712-1712)
  • Howell A.P. Howell (1715-1717)
  • Henry Hook (1718-1722)
  • Noyes Parris (1724-1729)
  • Daniel Elmer (1729-1755)
  • William Ramsey (1756-1771)
  • William Hollingshead (1773-1783)
  • Ethan Osborn (1789-1844)[n 1]
  • David McKee (1836-1838)
  • Beriah B. Hotchckin (1845-1850)
  • David C. Meeker (1851-1855)
  • James Boggs (1857-1866)
  • Hiram E. Johnson (1866-1869)
  • Samuel R. Jones (1869-1874)
  • Samuel R. Anderson (1875-1883)
  • Henry Reeves (1883-1885)
  • Frank R. Symmes (1886-1890)
  • Thomas W. Pulham (1891-1893)
  • George Warrington (1894-1897)
  • J.N. Wagenhurst (1897-1900)
  • John Bamford (1901-1903)
  • W.J. Trimble (1903-1906)
  • William Bullock (1907-1908)
  • Nelson B. Kline (1909-1910)
  • William M. Seel (1912-1914)
  • Franklin Weatherwax (1914-1917)
  • Nelson B. Kline (1918-1922)
  • Jacob Dyke (1922-1923)
  • J. Howard Douglas (1923-1928)
  • Clinton Cook (1929-1941)
  • Arthur Haverly (1942-1945)
  • John Taxis (1945-1947)
  • Paul Stauning (1947-1951)
  • Ralph Tamaccio (1951-1954)
  • Lincoln Griswold (1955-1958)
  • Allen Ackley (1960-1964)
  • Vaughn Thurman (1965-1967)
  • Charles Dennison (1972-1976)
  • Lawrence C. Roff (1977-1984)
  • Allan Story (1985-1992)
  • Michael Schuelke (1992–2022)
  • Chris O'Brien (2022-Present)

Source: "Fairfield Presbyterian Church (PCA)". Fairfield Presbyterian Church.

Notes

  1. ^ The longest serving pastor at 55 years.

See also

References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System – (#77000860)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. ^ "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places – Cumberland County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection – Historic Preservation Office. September 29, 2022. p. 3.
  3. ^ "Presbyterian Church in America: Church Directory". Stat.pcanet.org.
  4. ^ "Tri-Centennial Anniversary Celebration" (PDF). Fairfield Presbyterian Church.
  5. ^ "PCA Historical Center: Fifty Oldest Churches in the PCA". Pcahistory.org.
  6. ^ "PCA Historical Center: Fairfield Presbyterian Church (PCA), Fairton, NJ". Pcahistory.org.
  7. ^ "Fairfield Presbyterian Church". Historic American Buildings Survey. 1936.
  8. ^ George A. Chidley (March 1973). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Old Stone Church". National Park Service. With accompanying two photos
  9. ^ "325th Anniversary | Fairfield Presbyterian Church, PCA". Fairfieldpca.org.
  10. ^ "Our Beliefs | Fairfield Presbyterian Church, PCA". Fairfieldpca.org.
  11. ^ "Fairfield History | Fairfield Presbyterian Church, PCA". Fairfieldchurchpca.org.

Bibliography

  • The Fairfield Presbyterian Church Manuscript Collection. Princeton Theological Seminary Library. 1996.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fairfield Presbyterian Church.
  • Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. NJ-273, "Fairfield Presbyterian Church, Fairton, Cumberland County, NJ", 2 photos, 11 measured drawings, 5 data pages, supplemental material
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