Middlebush Reformed Church

It was organized by Dutch settlers on March 19, 1834 in the Colonial Farms area of what is now Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey.[10] The initial three member committee included the first Reverend of the church Jacob Schultz.[11] The settlers had "migrated from Manhattan Island seeking more tillable land".[12] Residents were previously traveling to Reformed churches in Hillsborough, New Jersey; Franklin Park, New Jersey; or New Brunswick.[13] The few Dutch families initially met in a barn "in what is now O'Connor's Beef 'N Chowder House on Amwell Road" owned by the Voorhees family.[10] One descendant, Mary Amanda Voorhees, "Miss Amanda", later served as the church's organist for forty-five years.[7] "[S]ervices continued there until 1835, when the white frame church was completed".[10] Three locations for the church building were considered: one on Amwell Road north of the current location, one on South Middlebush Road south of the railroad tracks, and the current location on the corner of South Middlebush Road and Amwell Avenue. One acre of land was given for the church lot and about five more acres continuing along South Middlebush Road were purchased by the church. The acreage was divided into smaller lots and sold off in 1839. The cornerstone of the church building was laid on June 7, 1834. During construction, the search for a pastor began. Jacob I. Schultz (1792-1852), the pastor at Whitehouse Station, New Jersey and Lebanon, New Jersey was contacted. The new church building was dedicated on February 19, 1835.[14] The final cost was $3,989.[3] Schultz was formally installed as pastor on December 30, 1835.

Lightning destroyed the church building on July 2, 1917,[10] the New York Times noted part of the furniture was saved and the loss was estimated at $50,000.[8] Congregation members who lived nearby rescued furniture and the church membership book. A kerosene lamp was saved, and is currently hanging in the church.[10][13] Planning for the new building at the same site started immediately but construction was delayed by World War I.[7] The Gothic revival building was rebuilt using stone from the Martinsville, New Jersey quarry.[7][13] The church was rededicated in 1919.[7]

In 1972 the church set up a "mini" school.[15]

In 2003 the church started a living nativity which includes four readings from the Bible and ends with the adoration of the magi.[16][17] The annual Christmastime event includes "costumed characters, live animals and carollers".[16]

The church celebrated their 175th anniversary in 2009.[13] They buried and sealed a time capsule to be opened at the congregation's 200th anniversary in 2034, 25 years later.[5]

Pastors have included the following:[4]

• Jacob I. Schultz (1792-1852), 1834-1837[11][18]
• John Addison Van Doren, 1838-1865[11][18][19]
• George Swain (pastor), 1866-1868[11]
• Stephen L. Mershon, 1869–1874
• James Le Fevre, 1875-1902[20]
• John A. Thomson (pastor), 1902-1920 [18][21][22]
• Frank A. Langwith, 1921-1926[23]
• Harold W. Nelson, 1926-1928[18][24]
• Russell W. Shepherd, 1928-1930[18]
• Marinus Den Herder, 1931-1932[18]
• Cornelius Van Leeuwen, 1934-1937[18]
• Frank A. Langwith, 1937–1948
• David W. Jenks, student, 1949-1952 [18][25]
• Vernon L. Dethmers, 1952-1960[18]
• Charles B. Bridgman, 1961-1973[18]
• Ronald L. VanderBeek, 1974-1986[18][26]
• John J. Arnone, assistant, 1981–1982
• Gerald L. Vermilye, interim, 1986
• Taylor Holbrook, 1986-1998[18][27][28]
• Ross Rettig, 1999-2001[18][29]
• George Montanari, 2002-current [18][30]

• Centennial historical account of the Middlebush Reformed Church, Middlebush, N.J., 1834-1934. Middlebush Reformed Church (N.J.), 1934.
• Historical discourse delivered at the semi-centennial anniversary of the Reformed Church of Middlebush, N.J. James Le Ferve, Daily and Weekly Home News Printing House, 1884.
• Favorite recipes of the Middlebush Reformed Church, Middlebush Reformed Church (N.J.), Cookbook Publishers, 1978.
• Writings on American history: Volume 38 of Carnegie Institution of Washington publication Annual report (American Historical Association), KTO Press, 1938.
• The Churches speak on--women's ordination: official statements from religious bodies and ecumenical organizations, J. Gordon Melton, Gary L. Ward, The Churches speak series, Gale Research, 1991, 0810376474, 9780810376472.
• Historical discourse delivered at the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Reformed Church of Middlebush, N.J., John A. Thomson, Published by the Consistory, 1909.
• Historical discourse on occasion of the centennial anniversary of the Reformed Dutch Church of Millstone, Edward Tanjore Corwin, J.J. Reed, Printer, 1866.
• Pre-revolutionary Dutch houses and families in northern New Jersey and southern New York, Rosalie Fellows Bailey, Holland Society of New York, Dover Publications, 1968.

• Middlebush Reformed Church Official Website