Fairfield Presbyterian Church

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 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 is located in Cumberland County, New Jersey
Fairfield Presbyterian Church
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
Built1780
Architectural styleGeorgian, Builder Georgian
NRHP reference No.77000860[1]
NJRHP No.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, 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 significance in architecture.[8]

In 2006 the church celebrated its 325th anniversary.[9] The church subscribes to the Westminster Confession of Faith.[10] The current senior pastor is Rev. Michael Schuelke, who has served the congregation since 1992.[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–present)

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

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". 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.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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