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From the book "Bloomfield Presbyterian Church on the
Green"
by Custom Book, Inc. - 1972
Sent to L. H_iler by Judy Gluck. OCRed 1-7-1996
Comments/corrections in { } (Pgs. 4,5,8,12)
Bloomfield Presbyterian Church
on the Green
175 years ago our forefathers brought forth on "The Green" a
new church whose influence was felt at the heart of the Town
in its early development and whose people still play a vital
role in the community today.
Recognizing, that to a large degree, we are what our
traditions are, as individuals, as a church, as a nation, we
are grateful for our heritage as a people of God and
herewith record something of God's goodness to us in the
land of the living.
Merle S Irwin Pastor
"All through this hour. Lord, be our guide. For, by Thy
power, No foot shall slide."
Quarter-hourly. the chimes from Old First Church ring out
this message of Divine concern and protection. The sound of
the chimes floats into classrooms in Bloomfield High School
at one end of the town S Green and into lecture halls and
laboratories of Bloomfield College at the other end. It
sings through the bustling Centre stores and offices. It
rings in the ears of all Bloomfielders within a goodly
radius of the church. To the religious. it brings
benediction. To those to whom it means only the passage of
time, it still seems a part of Bloomfield. a meaningful part
of the town's heritage.
Town Named After Church
Indeed, Bloomfield owes not only this tradition but also its
very name to the Old First Presbyterian Church. Unlike most
early communities, the town, incorporated in 1812, took its
name from the congregation at the Green's head, rather than
the other way around. it came about in this wise:
In 1794, the eighteenth year of Americas independence and
the fifth under its present Constitution the area which is
now Bloomfield was known as the Wardsessing section of
Newark, It included Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Montclair,
Verona and CaIdwell and was a section of scattered
farmhouses and dirt roads. Its people traveled each Sunday
to Newark or Orange to attend worship services at the
Presbyterian Churches there, It was a long and arduous trek
of which the good people of Wardsesson became heartily
weary.
Accordingly, the ninety-eight families of the area began to
hold their own religious services at the home of
Bloomfield's Deacon, Joseph Davis. His comfortable stone
homestead on Franklin Street offered ample facilities for
this hospitality. The group soon applied to the New York
Presbytery for permission to organize into a distinct
congregation. The petition being granted, the congregation
became known as the "Third Presbyterian Congregation of the
Township of Newark. " This was in July, 1794.
In October, 1796, the orderly-minded founders incorporated
the church under the laws of New Jersey as the "Presbyterian
Society of Bloomfield." Among the first trustees were Isaac
Dodd and Samuel Ward, members of whose families have
maintained their association with the church right to the
present.
First Pastor and Original Members
The Reverend Abel Jackson, who served the church as its
first pastor from 1800 to 1810, compiled a list of names of
original members of the church. Among these names are a few
whose descendants' names may still be found on the
membership rolls today.
Names of those who belonged to Orange Church
{Click here to see alphabetized list}
Joseph Crane Jane Dodd Daniel Dodd
Stephen Fordham Sarah Dodd John H. Osborn
Aaron Crane Caty Ward Henry Fring
Caleb Martin Comely Taylor Elizabeth Range
Linas Baldwin Johanna Crane Phebe Vincent
Israel Crane Abigail Shaw
Matthew Dodd Members from Newark Church Mary Baker
Nathaniel Crane Eleanor Davis
Oliver Crane Joseph Davis Samuel Baldwin
William Crane Nehemiah T. Baldwin Joseph Collins
David Riker John Ogdan Ephraim P. Styles
Isaac Dodd (Deacon) Joseph Woodruff Nathaniel Bruin
Simeon Baldwin Jacob Ward Thomas Freen
John Dodd Samuel L. Ward James Ogdon
David Taylor David Baldwin Stephen Dodd
Ichebod Baldwin Stephen Ward Joseph Crane
Silas Baldwin Enos Farrand Nehemiah Ward
Jesse Baldwin Ephraim Morris (Deacon) Elphalet Osborn
David Baldwin Eunas Crane Squire Baldwin
Abijah Dodd Anna Davis Joseph Baldwin
Moses Dodd Esther Baldwin Michael Chiterling
James McGinnis Rhoda Ogdan David Peirson
Aaron Dodd Betsey Woodruff David Ward
John Collins Sarah Farrand - Widow Stephen Fring
Hiram Dodd Phebe Baldwin - Widow Joseph Baldwin
Zopher Baldwin Mary Ward Joseph S. Ward
Benjamon Baldwin Margaret S. Ward Aaron Jecobus
Enos Lyan Eunis D. Baldwin Isaac Dodd
Zador Crane Mary Collins Dct. John Ward
Hannah J, Crane Phebe Farrand Amos Baldwin
Tabitha Crane Joanna Morris John Baldwin
Hannah N. Crane Amzi Ball
Rhoda Baldwin Members received from Orange Sally Crane
Abigail Martain and CaIdwell by certificate Elizabeth Ward
Elizabeth W. Crane Mary Harrison
Sarah Smith Benjamin Crane Hannah S. W. Baldwin
Jemima Dodd Samuel W. Baldwin Sarah Perrow
Rachel Baldwin Julia Dodd Abigail Holmes
Abigail J. Dodd Hannah Ward Lydia Marton
Joanna Baldwin Anna Stiles Phebe Dodd
Rachel Dosson Lydia Dodd Joanna Peirson
Sarah S. Baldwin Elizabeth Crane Phebe Cockefair Widow
Hannah Baldwin Susannah Crane - Widow
Rebekah Baldwin New Members Sary Riggs - Widow
Jezabel Baldwin Sally Hayse
Sarah Baldwin Matthias Baker Martha Jackson
Anna Tomkins Joseph Crane Sarah Baldwin
Mary Dodd Stephen Peirson Rhoda Dodd
Lois Dodd John Cockefar Jacob Ward
Betsey Dodd Jeptha Dodd Caleb Ward
Margaret McGinnis Simion Baldwin Robert Lang
Sarah Baldwin Widow Cyrus Dodd Harriett Lang
Sarah Dodd Widow John Aryton Crane Lydia Baldwin
Elizabeth Pierson James Bilington Abigail Mingus
Sarah Fordham Rebekah Ward Elizabeth L. Ward
Susannah Crane Margerit Fring Eliza Cadmus
Jane Crane Elizabeth Ward Eunas Taylor
Hannah Crane Lydia Gibb Thomas Williams
Prudence Baldwin Hannah Baldwin Servant of Jeptha Crane
Abigail Crane {Joanne Rabun? :)}
Anna Ball April 17 - 1808 Isaac Ball
Christian Jackson Ephraim Cockefar
Abigail Bruin Joel Crane Jane Gould
Betsey Cadmus Fanna Ward Barthena Crane
Abigail Tomkins Rebekah Hathaway Justis Baldwin
Margaret Baldwin Jemima Dodd Abiatha Ward
Lanen - Servent of M. F. Joel Dodd
{M. B} July 17 - 1808 Caty Thomas
Amelyia Margaret Cadmus
Sally Crane Moses Baldwin Nansy Fring
Mary Harrison Michael Cockefer Johanna Taylor
Martha Ogiltree Wm. Crane Mary Collins
Betsy Morris Isaac Dodd Nansy Jacobs
Eunas Baldwin Enas Osborn Caty Fring
Betsy Martin Joseph Morris Mary Fring. of St
Rebekah Vincent Moses Seem Maria Cadmus
Nancy Baldwin Stephen Dodd Abigail Davis
Polly Vincent John P. Mead Ebenezar Hathaway
Lydia Baldwin Francis Vandyk James Davis
Hannah D. Baldwin Samuel L. Ward
Ann Harrison Lewis Baldwin
Naomy Peirson Polly, Wife of Amos Dodd
Betsey Odgon Mary, W of Ez Camel
Patty Dodd Elsey, W of Ephr. Cockefer
Mary Ball Naomy. W of Jn Cockefer
Abigail Bergan Jane, W of Pevmenas Dodd
Esther Dodd Caly, W of E Morris
Rhoda Osborn Rachel, W of Is Baldwin
Sarah Crane Jane, W of C Baldwin
Sally Baldwin Caty, W of D. Deso
Daniel Crane Rachel, W of J, Luke
Lucy Geralman Sally, W of M-F Davis
Lydia Ware Fanny, W of Josiah Crane
Sarah Baldwin Sophira, W of Isaac Crane
Hannah Ward Jamima, W of J Jacobus
Jemima Dodd Sally, W of Isaac Ball
Sally Cadmus Pheby, W of Abr Harrison
Margeritt Chiterling Polly, W of H Osborn
W. Thankful Torcker Peggy Jacobus
W. Mary Peirson Abigail Halsey Pruden
Christianna Harrison Joanna Baldwin
Phebe Ward Lois Marton
Jane Harrison Betsey Crane
Joanna Dodd Jane Morris
Mary Fring Sally Loyd
Anna Harrison Nancy Tomkins
Mahitable Pavcus Fanny Dodd
Moriah Loyd Sally Bergen
A Man of Foresight
Among the founders, none had a closer association with the
church than did Deacon Joseph Davis. It
was he and his wife who gave to the congregation the land at
the head of the Green, whereon the church stands, and it was
he who had a determining, albeit rather stealthy, hand in
setting the size of the edifice.
The cornerstone was laid on May 8, 1797, and the
surveyors laid out their stakes to start construction, but
Deacon Davis, pondering the future of church and community,
was ill-satisfied, He was sure that the church was too small
With him, foresight was a prelude to action. Accordingly,
one stormy night, Deacon Davis took a lantern and set out to
correct the dimensions of his beloved church. Secretly, he
moved the surveyors' stakes two feet outward in every
direction. Later, he instructed the workmen to build the
walls at the outer edge of the foundation trench, thus
expanding even more the size of the edifice. Later, when his
actions were discovered. his fellow members forgave his
temerity, and succeeding generations have had cause to be
grateful that the good Deacon was both large-minded and
determined enough to act upon his convictions.
Revolutionary Soldier Honored
The new congregation adopted the name of Bloomfield, in
honor of a Revolutionary soldier and statesman, Major-
General Joseph Bloomfield. In addition to distinguished
service with Washington's army during the War for
Independence, General Bloomfield was to serve as governor of
New Jersey in 1801-02 and again from 1803 to 1812, the year
of the town's incorporation. He and his wife paid a visit to
the local church on July 6,1797. He contributed one hundred
and forty dollars to the building fund and Mrs. Bloomfield
presented a Bible to the congregation, a volume which is
still one of its treasured possessions. This book, printed
in Trenton in 1791, is an exceptionally fine example 0f the
printer's art, all hand-set and finely bound.
Plans for the new church were drawn by Samuel Ward,
Architect. Most of the actual labor in erecting the original
church structure was done by the men and boys of the
congregation, under the direction of Aury King. Since this
labor of love reduced work costs to practically nothing and
since many valuable materials and fittings were donated, the
cost of the church was only fourteen hundred dollars.
Original Interior
The original interior had box pews, equipped with doors, so
that each small group of worshippers was
isolated from the others. This arrangement has long since
been changed, so that all pews are now open. The gallery
over the front entrance was arranged to accommodate an
organ. In 1884, a new organ was placed behind the pulpit and
another new instrument was installed in 1911.
In the Summer of 1799, worship services were held
inside the building, although the floors had not yet been
laid nor the windows set in position. By Autumn of the
following year, the church was ready for full occupancy,
complete in every detail except for the sixth window, added
in 1819, and the steeple.
The steeple was also erected in 1819, with a church
bell which was the gift of Major Nathaniel Crane, whose
family had given its name to Cranetown, later called
Montclair. This structure, including the clock, was rebuilt
in 1896, as part of the church's centennial celebration. In
1896, the chimes were installed, given as a family memorial
to Dr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Davis, a fitting and constant
reminder of the devotion of that family. The electronic
carillon was added in 1940, a memorial gift of Mrs. Allison
Dodd.
In 1942, the building's exterior was restored and in
1946, in observance of the 150th Anniversary, its interior
and assembly rooms were redecorated.
Church Manses
The church's first manse was erected in 1842 at the
corner of Broad Street and Park Avenue. This was sold in
1874 and was replaced by a second manse, at 23 Park Place.
In 1927, the present manse was purchased. at 67 Park Place.
Fittingly enough, this house was originally built in 1839 by
Caleb Davis, one of the original members of the church, and
son of Deacon Joseph Davis. Renovated in 1919, the doorway,
fireplaces and other portions of the structure were
preserved, so that alt the colonial charm and traditional
warmth of the early home are retained in the present manse.
In this renovation, the original ground-floor was raised to
become the second floor of the present structure. Anyone
desirous of treading the actual floor-hoards whereon the
early pastors trod must seek admission to the upstairs rooms
of today's rnanse!
Parish Growth Brings New "Firsts"
Growing in congregation and service, Old First Church found
it necessary to build a parish house, in 1840. This
structure served the town as well as the church. Town
Council meetings were held in it for many years before a
Bloomfield municipal building was a reality. It was also the
scene of the organization of the First Baptist Church in
1851. Christ Episcopal Church of Glen Ridge, too, enjoyed
Old First's hospitality when its own edifice was destroyed
by fire in 1893.
As town and congregation continued to grow, Old First
Church became the parent of other Presbyterian groups in
Bloomfield. The first 'daughter-church" to be organized was
the Park Avenue or German Presbyterian Church, which, like
the Baptists and Episcopalians of later dates, made use of
Old First facilities for its early meetings.
In October, 1854, a group of Bloomfielders who were
German-speaking began meeting in private homes to conduct
worship services in the German language. When it became
impractical to continue these home-meetings, the group
received permission to use the chapel of the First
Presbyterian Church.
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