First United Methodist Church, Somerville: History


	First United Methodist Church
	48 W. High St., Somerville, NJ 08876 (908)725-1473 The Rev. David Lehmkuhl, Pastor

History

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The following was taken from 50 Year Anniversary 1929-1979 Somerville First United Methodist Church (a booklet prepared for the celebration).

A 50 YEAR HISTORY OF FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF SOMERVILLE, THE CHURCH OF THE GOSPEL IN GLASS

The Official Board minutes for September 9, 1920 record that a motion was made and carried "that a building fund for a new church be started immediately."

In 1922, during the pastorate of Dr. Blair Latshaw in the Somerville Methodist Episcopal Church, a congregational meeting was held. It was at this meeting that the astounding announcement was made that philanthropist James B. Duke, whose estate adjoined the town, had given $80,000 for the building of a new church. Mr. Duke had also given the deed to the property between the present church and the adjoining school. This property was valued at not less than $10,000. Both of these gifts were in honor of his devoutly Methodist mother.

A period of seven years was to elapse before the day came for the dedication of the new church. During this interim on June 9, 1926 the merger of the Raritan Methodist Episcopal Church and First Methodist Episcopal Church was approved. The gift of Mr. Duke and additional funds contributed by the congregation and friends was allowed to accumulate, awaiting possible reduction in building costs, which had remained high over the past five year period.

By 1928 the fund had grown to a considerable amount, and in the latter part of that year the plans of architect Peter C. Van Nuys of Somerville and the $116,750 bid price of builder G. Barham Bond of Philadelphia were accepted. A total of six other firms had also bid on the construction work. The new church building was begun immediately after the plans and bid were approved. Mr. H. G. Lee of Philadelphia was superintendent of construction for the new building.

The Church building committee was composed of the following: Chairman-George M. Graef; Vice Chairman-Irving J. Shaffer; Secretary-Freas L. Hess, Sr.; Treasurer-John Zulauf; Harry K. Buzby, Charles Conover, Clifford D. Phoenix, A. G. Savacool, and Frederick Powelson. Following is the report of the Building Committee as submitted by Vice Chairman Shaffer:

"Some six years have passed since a committee was appointed to be known as a Building Committee for the purpose of gathering data as to the cost of erecting and furnishing a new and modern place of worship and also to provide for the fast growing Sunday School, which was even at that time very badly congested, due to the shortage of rooms and proper facilities.

"After many journeys to towns and cities, some nearby and others more distant, for the purpose of seeing what could be found in churches recently built that would suit our needs, and also one that could be erected for the amount of money set aside by Mr. Duke, together with such other monies as could be raised by popular subscription; finally settled on the layout of a Methodist Church which had been recently erected in West Chester, Pennsylvania at a cost of approximately $116,000.00 including furnishings. Deeming this amount well within our reach, we requested the architect whom we had employed, to draw plans and specifications for the purpose of receiving bids. Upon opening the bids, the prices ranged from $176,000 for a church built of brick, to $238,000 being the highest bid for stone. This temporarily blasted the hopes of the committee. That was in January 7 1924, but the committee ever faithful to their task, reviving the project from time to time without success, until the Spring of 1928, when a strong drive was made and considerable pessimism had been eliminated, we faced squarely the task before us and as a result we have today, standing on the old church lot, the beautiful outlines of stone structure, of which when completed we will all feel very proud and worth all the effort put forth by the committee as well as the sacrifices made by the members of the congregation. But we still have work to do; this edifice must be dedicated free from debt, same being a stipulation placed by Mr. Duke in connection with his gift and from $3,000 to $4,000 will have to be raised in addition to pledges already made before this can be accomplished. Our pastor is working very hard that this may be done; so be it resolved that every member of this congregation dedicate him or herself to the consummation of the thing we have to do."

An especially beautiful building stone known Foxcroft Granite was procured from a quarry near Chester, Pennsylvania for the outer walls of the new church. During the construction of the new building, when the old church had been taken down, the congregation met in the Somerville Masonic Hall for worship. This Privilege was extended by the Masons without charge for slightly more than a year.

Members of the Board of Trustees at,the time of dedication were as follows:

Uriah Coleman

Charles Conover

G. M. Graef

C. D. Phoenix

V. H. Pugh

W. A. Rowe

A. G. Savacool

I. J. Shaffer

John Zulauf

In 1939, ten years after the dedication of the church, delegates from the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the Methodist Protestant church came together to adopt a Declaration of Union, and to declare that they were now one church, The Methodist Church. The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Somerville then became The First Methodist Church of Somerville, and as such celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the new church from October 15 to October 22 with services of worship and fellowship.

In 1968, due to the merger of the Evangelical United Brethren Church with the Methodist Church to form the United Methodist Church, the name became The First United Methodist Church of Somerville.

The church organ, which was constructed and installed in 1929 by the Austin Pipe Organ Company of Hartford, Connecticut, began to show wear in its tonal quality in 1967. An extensive drive for funds to repair the organ was made, and the same company completed the repair work in June, 1969 at a cost of $27,120.

On Sunday, January 30, 1944, mortgage notes of the new building were burned and the church was debt free.

Most of the beautiful colored windows in the church are memorial windows. See The Gospel in Glass. One of them is in memory of Reverend M. D. Church, pastor of the church during the First World War, and especially noted for his excellent services at that difficult time.

Also noteworthy is this list of the ministers who have served the present church from its dedication to date [1979]:

F. W. Sloat 1927-1932
J. K. Easley 1932-1934
F. G. Willey 1934-1939
A. N. Smith 1939-1946
Olin Y. Shute 1946-1950
Harold B. Wright, Jr. 1950-1963
Edward Conklin 1963-1968
John Infanger 1968-1977
Henry McKinnon 1977-