The Federated Church of Livingston

The Livingston Baptist Church:

A History

Founding Fathers and Mothers

Members of families who were originally part of Northfield Baptist Church founded Livingston Baptist Church in 1851.  Believing that a church located in Teedtown (now Livingston Center) would be in a good geographical position to serve residents of that area, fourteen people, in the spring of 1851, requested the Northfield church release them from membership.  Records of the Northfield church contain this information:

May 4, 1851. After Communion a motion was made and carried that we grant the Brethren and sisters from the Turnpike their letters for the purpose of constituting a church of the same faith and over on the Turnpike, and, if constituted, they are to be fully dismissed.

These members included George and Margaret Stowe, Andrew and Jerusha Teed, Desire and Henry M. Courter, Ward and Eliza Parkhurst, John Jones, Humy Collons, Mary Kent, Betsy Cooke, Sally Courter, and Elza Kitchell.

The new congregation with fourteen constituent members was formally organized on June 17, 1851 in the home of Andrew Teed.  Mr. Teed who at that time served as Township Clerk and Justice of the Peace, became the first Clerk of the new church.  Some of the records, which he kept, still exist in his original record book, which is located in the present church office.

Building the Church Building

The new group immediately started to work to erect the building, which was to be its home.  Farmers who understood barn building built it.  In the attic of the church there were 9” by 12” beams fastened together with wooden pegs.  The building, completed in 1853, is at present the oldest church and public structure in Livingston.

While the original building still stands, there have been several renovations and additions.  In 1877 extensive improvements and alterations were made to the interior of the sanctuary.  Before that time there had been only one large room with a front entry under the balcony and one outside entrance.  Two rooms, the kitchen and choir room were added immediately behind the sanctuary.

Before the 1877 alteration, there were pews on either side of the pulpit and facing it.  Those on the east faced west, and those on the west faced east.  A heating plant was placed in the basement and several registers placed in the big room, which before that had been heated by two large wood stoves with pipes running the full length of the building.  The baptistery was constructed at this time.  Before the installation of the baptistery, the water used to fill it was obtained from Canoe Brook and hauled in barrels by horse and wagon.

In 1905, a Sunday School wing was added, the section of the building now known as “the lounge:.  During the 1913 program of alterations and improvements, stained glass windows were added to the sanctuary.  Other changes were made in the sanctuary in 1947, 1954 and in the early 1970’s.  Memorial Hall, a separate building primarily for use as a Sunday School, was completed I 1953.

As in many other communities during the latter part of the 19^th century and the early part of the 20^th, the church was the center for social activities in addition to its worship services.  Always, from the time of its beginning, the Livingston Baptist congregation placed strong emphasis on making regular contributions to home, state and foreign missions.

Impact of WWII

National events during the period of the 1930’s and 40’s had a definite impact upon the local community, church, and individual.  As the nation slowly began to recover from the economic problems of the Great Depression, they found themselves in the Second World War, affecting almost every family.  The Honor Roll of Servicemen, posted in the church in 1943, lists 54 names, 18 m3mbers and 36 who were associated with the Sunday School at sometime.

The aftermath of WWII produced an increase in births, family growth, and movement of families to suburbs like Livingston.  Enrollment in the Sunday School was at an all-time high, with 130 pupils in grades 7-12.  They met in the church sanctuary.  Each teacher sat in one pew and the class sat in the pew behind.

Rev. Goodwin B Webster became pastor of the church in 1948, and the church thrived and grew under his guidance.  He was buried in 1957 in the cemetery behind the church.

Olivet United Church of Christ:

A History

Olivet Church was originally one of three chapels established around 1835 and supported by the Hanover Presbyterian Church, founded in 1718.  The minister came monthly from Hanover to hold as service in Livingston.  At that time, the services were held in a schoolhouse on Walnut Street, a building long since gone.  Ida Genung in 1941 recalled hearing her grandmother say that those attending services brought candles to light the school house, and used foot-warmers, as there were no stoves in the building.

In 1855, the “Star Society” was formed by a group of young people, with the goal of raising funds to purchase land and build a chapel.  The Society worked for six years holding dinners and other events.  In 1891, Hanover Church member Ambrose Ely donated $300.00 to help purchase one acre of land at Mt Pleasant Avenue and Old Road and work started that year on the building that is now the Masonic Temple at the traffic circle.  The dedication was held on March 17, 1892.

In the beginning there were no pews, so boards were laid on nail kegs to serve as seats until the little church received generous bequests from Ambrose Ely and his bother William to furnish the sanctuary properly.  The evening worship continued until 1917 or 1918.

An active Sunday School was maintained and at that time a “Mothers and Teachers Club” was formed and hired student pastors from the Bloomfield Seminary to conduct Sunday services, who were paid $2.50 for their preaching.

In 1932 a full time minister was called to serve, and in 1934 when the Hanover Presbytery did not act on the second application for full parish status, the minister contacted the Middle Atlantic Conference of the Congregational Christian Church.  That inquiry proved fruitful.  The new congregation was established in May of 1935.  This pastor, Frederick Jenkins, was present in 1960 at the 25^th anniversary celebration.

Olivet attracted friendly people from all parts of Livingston and adjoining communities.  The basement often served as a community meeting house for the citizens of the Squiertown area interested in civic affairs.  Annual strawberry festivals on the lawn, fall suppers and spring variety shows became a tradition.  Loving kindness and friendship was always in abundance among the folks of the “Little Church of the Circle.”

The Ladies Aid raised money and with the proceeds purchased, among other things, a communion service.  They also sewed for the Orange Memorial Hospital and made robes for the Junior Choir.  In 1943 the Olivet Ladies Reading Society was formed for the discussion of new books and the study of religious topics.

The Pilgrim Fellowship for youth was active, as was the men’s group, the Friars.  By 1950 the congregation had outgrown the little church of the circle, and plans were made to build a larger sanctuary on Riker Hill.  The cornerstone was laid in 1952.

Activities in the new building included the Women’s Guild annual spring country fair, chicken barbeques put on by the Friar and an all –church antiques show and sale.  When Rev. Joseph Ward II assumed the pastorate in 1958, the parsonage at the church became the church annex and office, and was called “Friendship House.”

Congregational and E&R Churches Merge; United Church of Christ is Created

In 1957 the Congregational Christian Church as a whole merged with the Evangelical and Reform Church to become the United Church of Christ.  Also at that time there is the first record of joint worship with Livingston Baptist Church, on Maundy Thursday of that year.

As the congregation grew, plans were made to add a fellowship hall and additional church schoolrooms.  The groundbreaking ceremonies were held on May 17, 1964, and the addition dedicated on January 10, 1965 under the Rev. Dr. Alfred Hurst, called from Hawaii with his wife, Ruth to serve as pastor.  The Sunday School grew and children and youth choirs were added to the music program.  The Youth Fellowship met in the balcony space of Fellowship Hall (their “lounge”)

“Tuesdays in Livingston” was held for several summers when Olivet welcomed 27 six – to  eight-year-olds from Scudder Homes Neighborhood House child center in Newark.  Residents of Livingston who were active in the Coalition of Concern joined together in this project under Ann Wolfe’s direction.

A major interest of the congregation during the late ‘60’s and early ‘70’s was exploring senior citizen housing opportunities.  The church sponsored meetings at which the needs of Livingston’s older folk were discussed and recommendations made to the Township.

The changing demographics of Livingston’s population began to affect church membership as young people settled elsewhere, families were transferred, and others retired and moved away.  The congregation had to accept the difficult fact that the buildings were larger than needed and the church’s budget was being consumed by operational expenses to the detriment of our wider mission of service to others.

A pulpit vacancy led to more serious discussions with our fiends at Livingston Baptist Church, who were seeing also a slow decline in membership for the same reasons.

Joining Hands-

Federation Talks Begin

In Consideration of the changing demographic factors, leaders of both Livingston Baptist Church and Olivet United Church of Chris t began to study the possibility of combining the programs of the two churches.

In 1972 the Baptist pastor, Rev. N Vance Johnston, announced his impending retirement, effective in the fall of 1973.  He requested permission during his final year to serve as pastor of both churches simultaneously- Livingston Baptist and Olivet United Church of Christ.  Each congregation remains autonomous; we could not “merge” because of legal difficulties.

Yoked Ministry

Considering this association of the two churches a “yoked ministry,” Rev. Johnston served the two churches until his retirement in September 1973, preaching early of Sundays at Olivet at the “top of the hill,” and going “ down the hill: to led a service at the Baptist Church later in the morning.

During the month’s preceding Rev. Johnston’s retirement, a movement to consummate the federation of the two church bodies developed momentum.  Each church hoped to retain its identity as to denominational affiliation.

In September 1973 Rev. Ralph Drisko became interim pastor and the Olivet congregation sold its buildings, moved “down the hill,” and rented the Baptist building to hold services and meetings.  At this time the two Sunday Schools joined together with 30 children.  Adelle Rall was superintendent and Ann Wolfe co-superintendent,  Carol Holmelund and Eric Muller, Jr., and later his brother, Fred, teamed as youth leaders.

Horace Hunt is Called to Minister

Rev. Horace H. Hunt was called a pastor of both churches in November 1974, joining the two churches along with his wife Elva, son Kenny and daughters Sue and Amy.  He endeavored to guide each group in consideration of the proposed federation.  A preliminary vote of both congregations in 1975 indicated strong interest in going ahead.  Individual members representing both groups held regular meetings and presented to each of their church bodies a plan of union acceptable to a majority of both.

After endless meetings, hearing speakers from other churches that had federated and lawyers advising us about our legal duties, and meeting one another in our homes, in June 1978 each of the two congregations took action separately and approved the resolution to form a federated church.

The Church of the Cupid

Many names for the new church were suggested and at one point, when two sets of members announced upcoming marriages, Alice Franck suggested we call ourselves “the Church of the Cupid.”  However, we chose Federated Church of Livingston.

The Federated Church

On September 10, 1978 the first joint meeting of the two churches took place at the 10:00 AM Sunday Worship service, enabling the greatest number of people to be present.  At that meeting trustees and officers were elected and the proposed Certificate of Incorporation was approved and signed.  The Federated Church of Livingston became a reality after six years of hard work.  The service was followed by a covered dish luncheon.

The new church has dual affiliation with the American Baptist Churches of the USA through the American Baptist Churches of New Jersey and the United Church of Christ through the Central Atlantic Conference, and shares benevolences with these two Protestant groups.

We function as one entity, with specific responsibilities handled through boards and committees. The Board of Deacons, together with the pastor, exercises guidance of the activities of the church.  The Board of Trustees serves as legal representatives of the church and is responsible for monies and for the maintenance of church property.  There is a cemetery, formerly incorporated as a separate organization, that has been transferred back to the Baptist group as part of the church property, which is owned by the Baptist church.

Joining Together

The work of the new joint congregation proceeded smoothly as its members began to interact with one another, sharing church duties, activities, friendships, caring and love.

The Easter service on April 3, 1983 marked a special event, the dedication of new sanctuary paraments designed by Olivetan Judith Hill.  The designs are symbolic of the federation of the two church bodies.  The cross is the symbol of the center and foundation of our faith.  White is the color of new birth and new life; it is also the symbol of light that shines in the darkness.  The gold and platinum of the hands convey the “preciousness” of the joined congregations.

Another Beginning

Rev. Horace Hunt and his wife Elva left us in 1989, and Rev. Sarah Colvin and later her husband, Rev. Jim Colvin, served as interim pastors until 1991. In September 1991, Rev. David Long became pastor of the Federated Church.  He and his wife, Barbara, with their daughters Amanda and Amy, were welcomed into the church and quickly became part of the family.

In April of 2007,  Rev. Leslie Martin and his wife Linda  joined our church.