First Presbyterian Church of Freehold

Our History

A Brief Chronological History of Our Church

A Brief Chronological History of Our Church
  • 1685 Persecution and banishment of Presbyterians from Scotland
  • 1692 First House of Worship is built on Free Hill in Wickatunk and called "Old Scots Church"
  • 1706 First Recorded Presbytery Meeting in the US is at Old Scots Church
  • 1730 Second House of Worship is built on White Hill and known as "The Freehold Church" eventually to become what we know today as the "Old Tennent Church"
  • 1778 The Battle of Monmouth took place in the countryside around Old Tennent Church
  • 1832 Several members of Old Tennent, living in the village of Freehold, decide to erect a building that would be more convenient for their families.
  • The cornerstone is laid June 10, 1835 on a lot that is now 57 West Main Street
  • 1837 The Village Presbyterian Church building is completed on June 17th at a cost of $4000
  • 1838 "The Village Church of Freehold" is organized by the Presbytery of New Brunswick with a membership of 32
  • 1865 270 members begin talk of a new building and location which is endorsed by a congregational vote in 1870
  • 1870 The name of our church is changed to the "First Presbyterian Church of Freehold, New Jersey
  • 1871 The cornerstone of the new Church is laid at the corner of Main and Brinkerhoff (Our church today)
  • 1873 The Building is completed and dedicated
  • 1887 The Bell Tower is rebuilt
  • 1896 A rotary system for the election of elders and deacons is adopted which is still used today
  • 1906 Our Sanctuary is redecorated
  • 1909 The Cradle Roll is established
  • 1921 Electric Lighting is installed in the Church
  • 1938 Our 100th Anniversary celebration
  • 1941 The Unity Club is formed
  • 1958 Our Church Library is enlarged and cataloged
  • 1967 Our Christian Nurture Building is dedicated. $10,800 is raised towards the total funding of the building.
  • 1971 Open Door is organized by our Church.
  • 1971 The Mural in the CN Building is dedicated.
  • 1971 The CN Building is used for emergency classrooms.
  • 1979 Unicameral Session is adopted by our Church. Until this adoption the Session and Trustees were separate boards.
  • 1981 Nave is redecorated and a new Austin organ is installed.
  • 1996 we welcomed Rev. Cindy Bowman and Rev. David Bowman as our co-pastors.
  • 2001 New Handicap Access Ramp and New Sanctuary Sound System are installed.
  • 2002 Sanctuary and Steeple Roof replace
118 West Main Street • Freehold, NJ 07728 | Phone: 732-462-0234 | Email: contact@fpcfreehold.org | Home | Terms of Use | Site Map
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