Church History - Farmingdale FUMC

Church History

History

Pipe Organ

Past Pastors

Growth and Change

History

The earliest authentic record of services held in Farmingdale, then known as Marsh's Bog, by Methodists, indicates Benjamin Abbott, while on his way to Long Branch from areas south and west of here, delivered the sermon. He was located at Long Branch and would ride the circuit to these rural areas. Gatherings for worship would take place on any day of the week, whenever the preacher arrived, and were held in homes or barns in the area or in the school house.

Thirty-four years later, 1827, the first church was erected on land donated by William Little. It was a small modest structure, roughly finished. The church was made part of the Freehold circuit and the pulpit was served by two pastors, Rev. Levi M. Prettyman and Rev. James McLauren. This made it possible to have services on a more regular basis and to serve the community better.

Five years after this, in 1832, fifty new members were added to the church roll. The church was beginning to grow and in 1844, the first parsonage was built in this village now called Upper Squankum in the township of Howell. This gave the preacher a place to stop and spend a few days on his circuit ride. Upper Squankum was a growing community and the religious needs of the people were growing also. At this same time, 1844, the seating capacity of the church had become inadequate. Our forefathers knew a larger more modern place of worship needed to be constructed.

In 1848, a lot was purchased from Catherine Wainwright and one year later, in 1849, the corner stone was laid. In May of 1851, the new structure was completed at the site of our present church and dedicated. Among those who contributed liberally toward defraying the expense of construction was William Goodenough whose donations exceeded $300.00. At this time we were given a full time pastor, believed to be Rev. John L. Sauder.

By the year 1852, our church membership again was largely increased. In 1866, the church was enlarged. Improvements included the addition of a vestibule, class room, pulpit recess and spire. The cost of these additions were $5000.00. On January 1, 1867, renovations were completed and our church was again ready to serve it's members and the community. In 1868, through the energetic efforts of Rev. William Osborn, a new parsonage was built next to the church on Main Street at the cost of $3000.00.

For many years in our history West Farms Methodist Church and Farmingdale Methodist Church formed a circuit, sharing their pastor, growing together, celebrating their special events together and helping and supporting each other in their growth and church work. Eli Gifford served our churches from 1881 to 1883. Following several revival services the congregation membership doubled, Farmingdale increased by one hundred members and West Farms by fourty-five.

In 1883, during a harsh electrical storm in June the church spire was struck by lightning and shattered. The damage seemed to be slight but the cost of repair was $75.00.

During the early 1890's, a pipe organ was purchased to enhance the worship service. Not too long after this, in 1893, a fire destroyed the church that had been built, nurtured, and loved so by the members and pastors that it served it. The cause of the fire was never exactly known, however, it was believed to have been caused by a defective flue. The building, the organ, and the hopes burned to the ground on a Sunday morning only a short time prior to the hour when services were to begin. There was no adequate means of combating a fire of that magnitude as Farmingdale's First Hook and Ladder Company was not organized until 1903. Our church was lost but through the heroic and strenuous work of a bucket brigade, the parsonage, located only a few yards away, was saved.

This tragic event did not discourage the strength of this group of Christians. Worship services continued. For some time, members worshiped in Odd Follows Hall, a building located near the main Street crossing of the New Jersey Central Railroad. In 1894, Rev. William Wedderspoon succeeded Rev. Samuel E. Post. Immediate action was taken to replace the burned church. Rev. Wedderspoon, with the hearty cooperation of members and friends of the church, succeeded in building the house of worship we now sit in one hundred years later. The cost of the building which included the sanctuary, Sunday School room, and kitchen (our present library) was $12000.00.

A Paper retrieved from the corner stone opened September 25, 1994 indicated the building committee was composed of three prominent church members: A. A. Yard, James Flitcroft, and Joseph Winsor. Listed also were many members and friends of the church that gave a donation towards its construction in the amount of $1.00 each.

The foundation was laid by Harry Hulsart. The bricks were from the brickyard owned by the Lippincott family on Tinton Falls Road across Route 33. The corner stone was laid in May of 1894, and the construction of the wooded frame began. The stately Victorian, Gothic structure was very difficult to construct as it had no internal supports. The frame work was nailed together on the ground and then raised into place by ropes pulled by horses and men. The south wall of the sanctuary bellows out. This is because after being raised into place it was not properly secured. During the night a heavy storm pushed it out of place and buckled the timbers. Since they were unable to restore and realign it properly they built around the bulge.

The beautiful stain glass windows were given by individuals in memory of loved ones and purchased in Philadelphia. The original pews were given to us by a church in Long Branch when they purchased new ones. The organ, a manual pipe organ was purchased from the Hook and Hustings firm of Boston, Massachusetts, definitely the pride of the congregation.

The interior donned all the nostalgia of the period including wanes coating paneling, sculptured tin ceiling, which at the up most section gave to the shape a cross, and large hanging oil lamps. Large sliding windows connected the sanctuary to the Sunday School room and when open increased the capacity of the church to near six hundred.

On the outside all could enjoy the large gables, stately spire and victorian gingerbread finish. For the convenience of the parishioners there was a porte-cochere and carriage porch. Church goers could step right from their horse and drawn buggy onto the porch and into the sanctuary. In the bell tower was a large bell which rang on Sunday mornings calling all to come when rung and was removed not to be replaced until about four years later.

Thursday, September 6, 1894, through Sunday September 9, 1894, gave way to four days of celebration and dedication services of the New Farmingdale Methodist Episcopal Church. Farmingdale again had a Methodist church. A building truly to be proud of.

Written by Anne Willuweit October 1994

top

Our One Hundred Year Old Pipe Organ

Preparing for the centennial celebration of our sanctuary began in 1991. Our pipe organ was in great disrepair. A decision had to be made to either replace it or have it totally rebuilt. After several inquirers and some research we discovered that our organ was truly a treasure and if refurbished and rebuilt it would last us another one hundred years.

BACKGROUND HISTORY: Hook & Hastings was an organ building firm that was founded by Elias and George Hook in 1827. In 1872 Francis H. Hastings entered into partnership and in 1881 the company became known as Hook & Hastings. They we known as master builders of pipe organs.

According to company records from the Hook & Hastings Company, our organ, opus 1648, was built in 1894 for the Methodist Episcopal Church in Farmingdale, N.J. It is a two manual and pedal organ containing seven ranks of pipes. In the company records of circa 1881 it is listed as a "size No. 35, having a list price of $1250.00, freight and set up not included."

In 1989 and 1990 funds became available through memorial gifts, bequest and gifts to the organ restoration fund. In the late spring of 1991 the organ was removed piece by piece and trucked to Silver Spring, PA. Here the R.J. Brunner Co. Organbuilders cleaned and polished all of the internal works of the organ. Lathering was replaced, the windchests were rebuilt. Some keys on the keyboard were replaced and all were buffed to their original luster. All the pipe work was washed and the facade pips were striped of the old paint which had darkened and replaced with fresh gold paint.

Several members of our congregation sanded down and refinished the outer casing of the organ which had been left behind. Mid September, after about three and one half months, out organ was back home and more beautiful then ever. Our organ rededication took place on September 29, 1991. Phase one of our Centennial celebration was completed and we were ready to continue making our plans to celebrate other aspects of our Bicentennial and Centennial.

top

Church Pastors

1793 Benjamin Abbbott

1827 Levi M. Prettyman James McLauren

1828 Richard W. Petherbridge William Granville

1829 John Woolston Josiah F. Canfield

1831 Thomas Neal Isaac W. Felch

1832 Thomas G. Stewart David Bartine

1833 James Long Thomas G. Stewart Mulford Day

1834 James Long John W. Crane

1835 Mulford Day Wesley Robertson

1837 Joseph Atwood Charles S. Downs

1839 Edward Page John B. Mathis

1840 Vincent Messler Edward Page

1841 Bromwell Andrews Nicholas Vansant

1842 Bromwell Andrews William P. Corbit

1843 Abrham J. Truett Joseph B. Doddins

1844 Abraham J. Truett Jacob P. Fort

1845 Samuel Jaquett Robert Givin

1846 Samuel Jaquett Johnathan W. Putman Charles P. Whitecar

1847 Joseph J. Sleeper W. William Christine

1848 John S. Beegle Joseph J. Hanley

1850 John W. Barrett William W. Clark

1851 John W. Barrett William C. Stockton Samuel T. Moore

1852 D. Palmer & McGowan marked withdrawn and succeeded by

1852 William C. Stockton William Franklin

1853 Josiah F. Canfield William Franklin

1854 Josiah F. Canfield E. W. Durell

1855 James F. Morrell J. O. Woodruff

1856 James F. Morrell Ruluff V. Lawerence

1857 Ruluff V. Lawerence Mardecai C. Stokes

1858-59 Samuel Jaquett

1860-61 Garner H. Tullis

1862-63 John L. Souder

1864-65 William H. Boyle

1866-67 James F. Morrell

1868-69 William B. Osborn

1870-72 John J. Graw

1873-74 Samuel C. Chattin

1875 Thomas S. Wilson

1876-78 S. Wesley Lake

1979-80 Thomas C. Carmen

1881-83 Eli C. Gifford

1884-86 W. F. Herr

1887-88 Nerman J. Wright

1889-90 J. W. Sawn

1891-93 Samuel E. Post

1894-96 William R. Wedderspoon

1897 W. S. Barnart

1898-99 Benjamin C. Lippincott

1900-01 Richard T. Leary

1902-04 Joseph C. Kulp

1905-07 William Adams

1908-10 Zachary T. Dugan

1911-12 Rollin C. Smith

1913-15 Benjamin H. Decker

1916 George C. Goff died at parsonage of T.B.

1916-18 David Roe Haney

1919-20 Charles M. Hogate

1921-22 Arthur C. Polhemas

1923 Linwood Miller

1924 Daniel Johnson

1925-27 Spenser K. Moore

1928-33 Dr. Harry David Hummer

1934-36 Walter S. R. Powell

1936-38 Kenneth Kingston

1938-40 Henry Lawrence served June to September

1940-42 Wilbur N. Pike

1942-47 Warren S. Layton

1947-49 Robert C. McNaughton

1949-51 Dr. Isaac S. Witaker

1951-60 Fay Henry Smith

1960-65 Charles G. Hankins

1965-70 Horce M. Frantz

1970-72 Ronald Dyson

1972-81 Charles K. Root

1981-88 Dr. William H. Moyer

1988-92 Geraldine I. Fowler

1992-98 Dr. Charles W. Mark

1998-present Dr. Wayne C. Richards

top

Growth and Change

Over the past one hundred years the church name has changed slightly as the Methodist organization has changed. It went from The New Farmingdale Methodist Episcopal Church, to the Methodist Episcopal Church, to The First Methodist Church in 1939 and finally to the First United Methodist Church in the late 1960's.

Pastors have changed over the years each bringing their own energy, enthusiasm, and ideas to our congregation. Church membership has changed as new members joined and others found it necessary to leave but each was an important part of our family and our growth.

Our building has changed. In 1913, electricity was installed in both the church and the parsonage. The pipe organ was also converted to electric. This eliminated the need for the boy behind the organ to pump the bellows. In 1922, the present bell was hoisted into place after finding the two, previous bells were too heavy and shook the structure.

In 1924, our present pews were purchased and installed.

In 1940, the present Nursery Room was added as an up-to-date kitchen. The previous kitchen was located where our present library is.

With continued growth, large Sunday School attendance, youth group activities, socials, and dinners, a large fellowship hall was planned and completed in 1958. This included a pastors study, church office, modern bathrooms, and spacious storage closets.

In 1965, our new parsonage was completed on Hurtt Ave. and our old parsonage was sold and moved from its almost one hundred year place of honor next to the church to its present location on Asbury Ave. Our church added an entrance driveway on the north side of the church where the parsonage use to be. This was later black topped along with the rear parking area and exit driveway.

Many renovations and modernizations have taken place to this 1894 structure to enhance its beauty, use, up keep, and efficiency. This has included a drop ceiling in the sanctuary, day care, and library as well as the addition of paneling, improved lighting, ceiling fans, a new furnace, and heating systems. The front of the sanctuary was rebuilt and new furnishing were acquired. To the exterior, aluminum siding was installed. Beautiful new cabinets, counter, and carpeting were added to the Day Care Room, and our air conditioning system was installed in 2000. A new room was added to Fellowship Hall in 2003, and has been very useful for our Pre-K class, Sunday School classes, meetings, etc. Over the summer, we got new carpet and pew cushions. In the fall of 2004, we got new windows and siding, further improving the looks of our beautiful church. It has been a great blessing to receive these donations.

Meeting the needs of the people and the community has changed also. Our music department, which used to consist of only an adult and a junior choir, has hosted over the years an all boys choir, an orff choir, a folk choir, and currently consists of an adult choir, children's choir, Wesley hand bell choir, and a children's chime choir.

In the early 1900's the Epworth League was the spiritual social and business hub of the church. This group of both men and women conducted prayer meetings and saw to the organizing and running of activities of the church. The Ladies Aid which later became the United Methodist Women met the spiritual and educational needs of the women in the church. They also helped with the furnishing of the parsonage and finances of the church by holding bazaars and luncheons and actively took part in mission projects of the church as they still do today.

The youth have always been considered an important part of our church. from early years of devoted teachers giving their time and talents in Sunday School education to the formation of the Pot Luckers. In the 1940's, the Pot Luckers, an organization unique to our church alone, brought fellowship and entertainment to the youth of the church and community during the war years. As the group grew in both age and number so did their mission in the church . They had the ability as a Christian group to earn finances for our church and assisted in supporting many projects that were done over the years. They raised most of their funds by preparing and serving many delicious dinners over their fifty plus years of existence. For many years high school youth have been involved in our M.Y.F. The name also changed to the U.M.Y.F., United Methodist Youth Fellowship. They have expanded from a fellowship group caring about and serving our own church to a mission group which is actively helping to do the Lords work not only in our community but in our Christian community of the world.