A SHORT HISTORY OF THE METHODIST CHURCH IN LAKEWOOD, NJ

The current congregation of Christ United Methodist Church is a conglomeration of three different Lakewood area Methodist ministries. These include a Lakewood and Greenville Methodist ministry founded in the last century, and a Hispanic ministry founded out of missionary work shortly after the first two ministry merged in the last half of the 1960's.

It was a strange coincidence that the Methodist congregations of Lakewood and Greenville, who would later join to form the present Christ United Methodist Church, started quite independently 159 years ago. In 1837, when Lakewood was Bergen Iron Works, a group of worshippers met in the Bergen Iron Works School House on the knoll between the lakes, as it was described then, adjoining the old burying ground. This is now the corner of Caranetta Drive and Central Avenue. The Greenville congregation met together for the first time in this same year in the Brewertown school house which was built the year before in 1836.

THE GREENVILLE CHURCH

After meeting in the Brewertown school house for thirty-four years a new Greenville Church was constructed in 1871. The Bergen Iron Works school house, which had been used by the Lakewood Congregation was torn down and used to help construct the Greenville Church. It is reported the Greenville church was organized in 1873.

The Greenville Sunday School, organized by the Presbyterians, became the Methodist Episcopal Sunday School in 1880. In 1887, the Reverend R.T. Leary was assigned to the circuit of Greenville and Lakewood. Later, on March 26, 1888, the Reverend James Leland Howard was appointed to the Greenville, Bethel and Lakewood Circuit.

In 1903 the cornerstone of a new Greenville church was laid at the northwest corner of East County Line Road, Ridge Avenue, and Parker Road. In 1901 a parsonage was acquired and then in 1913 replaced by a newly built home. After some years, in 1946, the chancel was remodeled and a new organ installed. Then in 1956, new pews, new chancel furniture, and hearing equipment reflected the growth and dedication of the congregation. Probably the undertaking of greatest magnitude at the Greenville Church was the spacious and very substantial education building erected in 1963 between the sanctuary and the cemetery. In May 1965 the Greenville and Lakewood Congregations merged.

The Cornerstone of the Greenville Church was laid in 1903, and stands at the corner of County Line Rd, Ridge Ave. and Parker Rd in Lakewood NJ. The Church was purchased by St. Mary of The Lake and Holy Family Catholic Church.

THE LAKEWOOD CHURCH

After meeting in the Bergen Iron Works School House for 32 years, a new Lakewood Church was erected. On July 4, 1865, the name of Bergen Iron Works was changed to Bricksburg in honor of Joseph W. Brick. His three daughters, Caroline, Sarah and Josephine gave the name to Lake Carasaljo. Lake Mannetta was named after Mrs. Brick. Mr. Brick gave a lot on Clifton Avenue, between First and Second Streets, on which the new church was erected in 1869.

A short time later in 1873 hard times came to Bricksburg. The lumber mill closed; people moved away and the mortgage on the Lakewood church was foreclosed. Samuel D. Davis and A.S. Kimball, of the Laurel House directorate, purchased the church building and "utilized it for entertainment's and the Public Library",according to the Rev. James Leyland Howard, a pastor 15 years later.

The First Church was built in 1869 by the Lakewood Congregation on Clifton Ave. between 1st and 2nd Streets in Lakewood NJ.

By this time new interests had decided to develop the town as a resort for recuperation and health, and Bricksburg Land Improvement Company selected Lakewood as a more attractive name.

The disbanded Lakewood church was not reorganized until 1886, meeting in Larrabee's Hall, over the barber shop, at Lexington Avenue and Main Street near the railroad. The Church was serviced by Rev. Leary and later Rev. Howard. In 1889, the old church building was re-acquired, where service was conducted on Christmas Day 1889. The next year Rev. Howard was assigned full time to the Lakewood Church.

Some years later in 1903 the old Lakewood church was moved up Clifton Avenue to the corner of Third Street. This building was to be used for the Sunday School and a new addition was built as the sanctuary. In 1904 the old parsonage in Lakewood was sold and the property adjoining the church property became the new parsonage. In 1910 the cornerstone for the church at Third and Clifton was laid. The Lakewood Church was formerly dedicated April 14, 1912.

This is a rendition of how the Church appeared around 1971 on the corner of Clifton Avd and 3rd Street, Lakewood NJ. The Church consists of the original building moved to the site in 1903 (right side) and the larger octagonal sanctuary (left side) added about 1910

In 1962, recognizing the limitations of the church building and site, the new pastor, the Rev. Raymond Gruezke along with lay leader Leon McKelvy encouraged the congregation in looking for a new location. None being found, it was agreed to remain on Clifton Avenue, until a church member discovered the deQuevas property between 5th and 6th Street west of Route 9. Several efforts to make contact with the Marquessa deQuevas (the granddaughter of John D. Rockefeller, who as a child lived in the Lake House or Strong Cottage) resulted in the purchase of the property in May 1964.

In May 1965 the merger of the Lakewood and Greenville congregations brought a reassessment of future development. Soon after Georgian Court College offered to sell the Lake House property to the church. This beautiful site, which was across the street from the purchased deQuevas tract, was acquired in 1967. The deQuevas tract was eventually sold at a profit for the church. The Lake House property was especially attractive to the congregation because of its view of the lake and the existing two buildings on the property. An architect was employed to develop plans for a sanctuary, fellowship hall, church offices and accessory facilities. Eventually a new educational building was to replace the Lake House - the former Strong Cottage. The Greenville Church property was sold at this time to St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church. Excessive costs limited the first stage of building to the fellowship hall, offices and accessory areas. This construction, directed by the congregation in late 1970, was nearly completed by Christmas of 1972.

On the last Sunday of 1972, immediately following the morning service, the congregation of Christ United Methodist Church marched joyfully from the old church to the new - choirs, children, youth and adults carrying the national and Christian flags, banners, Bibles, hymn books and the cross. On the first Sunday of 1973, the congregation held its first service at the current church location at North Lake Drive and 5th Street.

A new development beginning in 1975 was the creation of the Memorial Garden. Beautification of the church grounds came as a result of the landscaping of the Garden.

Another new development at the Church was begun in 1985. On July 14th, 1985 the ground breaking for the Christian Life Center was held. The Christian Life Center consisted of several classrooms, a fellowship hall and a chapel. This construction was completed late in 1986.

The Rev. Kathryn Avery LeGuillou was appointed Pastor of the Church in 1994 and the Rev. Sandra Cabrera was appointed Pastor of Hispanic Ministries in the Summer of 1996. The Church is very blessed to have two such very talented Pastors leading our congregation. The Church continues to use the Christian Life Center for Sunday School and rents out the space to the sectarian Ocean Day School during the week. The Church will celebrated the 25th anniversary of the ground breaking of the Christian Life Center in 1997.

In June 1998, the Rev. Garfield L. Greene was appointed Pastor of the Church.

The current Church on the corner of North Lake Drive and 5th Street, Lakewood NJ, has a Sanctuary (left side) and Christian Life Center (Right Side)

HISPANIC MINISTRY OF LAKEWOOD

The Hispanic ministry started out as missionary work, supported and suggested by a lay leader of the now combined Anglo-American ministry, Leon McKelvy and by the Rev. Gruezky during the summer of 1967. By the fall of 1967, the congregational work was transferred to the first Hispanic Ministry of CUMC, the Rev. Emerson Rubio. The two ministries shared the Church building on Clifton Avenue and 3rd Street. The new ministry quickly organized, establishing several church committees and becoming involved with charity missions which were carried out to provide economic aid to people in countries such as Nicaragua, Guatemala, Colombia and Puerto Rico.

With the departure of Rev. Rubio, Rev. Gonzalez was appointed to this ministry. During this period, the ministry organized a weekly hour long TV program of preaching the Gospel broadcast on the local cable network. The TV program "La Tienda del Pueblo" continues to be broadcast. Rev. Rubio left in 1991. The ministry was blessed with the services of several talented Pastors from 1991 until the present.

Today the Hispanic ministry is led by Rev. Federico Quezada.

CHRIST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH TODAY

English speaking ministries are led by Pastor June K. Stitzinger-Clark, since her appointment in June 2000.

Back Home