Fairfield Presbyterian Church

Fairfield Presbyterian Church in Fairton, New Jersey is a historic Presbyterian Church in America congregation.[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 currently within the PCA (which it joined in 1980 after leaving the UPCUSA in 1971).[4][5] This log church was replaced by a New England style frame building sometime between 1713 and 1715.

Fairfield Presbyterian Church
The Old Stone Church (1780), a mile and a half south of the current church building
Fairfield Presbyterian Church
39°22′52.8″N 75°13′16.2″W
Location53 Main Street Church Lane, Fairton, New Jersey
CountryUnited States
DenominationPresbyterian Church in America
Previous denominationUnited Presbyterian Church in the United States of America
ChurchmanshipEvangelical, Reformed
Websitefairfieldpca.org
History
Founded1680
Architecture
Completed1850 (current church),
1780 (Old Stone Church)
Administration
PresbyteryNew Jersey, PCA
Clergy
Pastor(s)Rev. Michael Schuelke
Old Stone Church
Nearest cityFairton, New Jersey
Arealess than one acre
Built1780
Architectural styleGeorgian, Builder Georgian
NRHP reference No.77000860[1]
NJRHP No.ID#1042[2]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMay 12, 1977
Designated NJRHPMay 8, 1973

In 1780 the Old Stone Church was built, which still exists a mile and half to the south of Fairton. The stone church was in use till 1850, when the present building in Fairton was completed.[6] Since then the Old Stone Church has been preserved and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

In 2006 the church celebrated its 325th anniversary.[7] The church subscribes to the Westminster Confession of Faith.[8] The current senior pastor is Rev. Michael Schuelke, who has served the congregation since 1992.[9]

The Succession of Pastors Serving the Fairfield Presbyterian Church
  • 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–present)

Source: "Fairfield Presbyterian Church (PCA)". PCA Historical Center. Presbyterian Church in America.

Notes
  1. The longest serving pastor at 55 years.

References
  1. "Old Stone Church". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Cumberland County" (PDF). Historic Preservation Office. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
  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. "325th Anniversary | Fairfield Presbyterian Church, PCA". Fairfieldpca.org.
  8. "Our Beliefs | Fairfield Presbyterian Church, PCA". Fairfieldpca.org.
  9. "Fairfield History | Fairfield Presbyterian Church, PCA". Fairfieldpca.org.

Bibliography
  • Fairfield Presbyterian Church (Fairton, N.J.), Princeton Theological Seminary. Library. Department of Archives and Special Collections (1996). The Fairfield Presbyterian Church Manuscript Collection. Princeton Theological Seminary Library.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

See also


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.