Manahawkin Baptist Church facts for kids
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Manahawkin Baptist Church
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 Location in Ocean County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | N. Main St. (US 9) and Lehigh Avenue, Manahawkin, New Jersey |
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| Built | 1864 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001131 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 3, 1973 |
The Manahawkin Baptist Church, also known as the Free Church of Manahawkin, is a very old and important church building. It is located in the Manahawkin area of Stafford Township in Ocean County, New Jersey. This church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 3, 1973. It is special because of its role in education, military history, and religion over many years.
Contents
A Church with a Long History
The Very First Church in the Area
The first church in this area opened its doors on August 24, 1758. Some local people believe a place of worship was here even earlier, around 1745. A building was put up then, and the land was a gift from the John Haywood family. They had moved to the area in 1743 from Coventry, England. At that time, this was the only church building in what later became Ocean County.
The first missionary, Reverend Thomas Thompson, served the area from 1745 to 1751. He was sent to Stafford Township by a group called the "English Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts." This early church was very welcoming to people of different Protestant faiths.
Starting the Baptist Society
In 1770, a person named Captain Thomas Webb visited the village. He preached at the church and helped start a Baptist group with nine members. By 1774, when the church welcomed its first pastor, Reverend H. Crossley, the group had grown to 19 members.
The Church During the Revolutionary War
During the American Revolutionary War, there was a small fight called the "Skirmish at Manahawkin." It was between Captain Rueben Randolph's local militia and John Beacon's "Band of Pine Pirates." Wounded members of the Manahawkin Militia were cared for right inside the church. Many veterans of the Revolution are buried in the cemetery around the church. Local residents and even shipwreck victims are also buried there. Church services stopped during the war and the Baptist group did not start up again until 1801.
Growing and Rebuilding
In 1805, the church welcomed 44 new members, bringing the total to 68. On April 27, 1857, the church officially became a legal organization under New Jersey law. By 1864, the church walls were getting weak. A group was formed to start fixing and rebuilding the structure. The church was rebuilt with parts of the original building still inside. This work was finished under the leadership of Reverend A. H. Folwell.
The dedication service for the rebuilt church was held on July 10, 1867. This happened while Reverend E.S. Browe was the pastor. The cost to rebuild and redecorate the church was $2,776. Most of this money came from church members and friends.
A Place for Education
On August 25, 1870, the church celebrated 100 years since it started as a Baptist group. For many years, until after 1800, the church building was the only school in Stafford. The Bible was the only textbook used for learning.
Reverend E.L. Stager became a pastor in February 1880 but sadly passed away two years later at age 35. After this, many ministers came and went, usually staying for about a year. The first house for the pastor, called a parsonage, was built in 1882 near the church on Route 9.
New Pastors and Improvements
On January 12, 1884, Reverend W.W. Eldridge was chosen as pastor. The women of the church would clean the parsonage every week because Eldridge was single. In September 1885, Reverend Warren N. Walden became pastor and stayed until he passed away in December 1893.
Reverend E.F. Partridge was asked to be pastor in February 1898. The church members voted to pay him $300 a year. A new organ was bought in 1898. This organ was likely used until a Hammond organ was purchased in 1948. In 1901, Herman Joorman became pastor, but he later left to work as a missionary.
Changes in the 20th Century
From 1901 to 1948, many more pastors served the church. Some of them worked only part-time. In 1916, small rooms and a baptistry (a place for baptisms) were added to the original church building.
Sometime between 1920 and 1925, lightning struck the church spire. The spire, roof, and bell were damaged. At that time, the steeple was made shorter to its current height.
In 1938, church member Jim Shanklin and Jack Kilbert, a seminary student, led worship services. This continued until 1943 when Kilbert was sadly killed during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II.
New Beginnings and Growth in the Mid-1900s
Reverend Lauren D Rhine was invited to lead the church in April 1948. The church members had just finished redecorating the church. A new roof was put on, and the building was painted inside and out. On Mother's Day 1948, a Bible school started with 8 students. By 1952, the number had grown to 115!
In the summer of 1949, the first daily vacation Bible school began with eight teachers and 39 students. By 1950, the vacation Bible school had 12 teachers and 68 students. At their yearly meeting in 1950, the church voted to become a founding church in fellowship with the Association.
In the winter of 1952, a new parsonage was bought at the corner of Main and Beach Streets in Manahawkin. Reverend and Mrs. Lauren Rhine were the first to live there. Beginner and primary school classes were held every week. The church had 58 members and supported two missionaries in other countries.
Expanding the Church Campus
From 1952 to 1955, the church bought 100 feet of land on Route 9, across from the main building. They planned to build a Sunday school there. The new building would have a basement and one floor. A church member and local builder, Bill Shinn, oversaw the construction. Many volunteers helped build it.
John Erwin became the pastor on July 6, 1953. Pastor Erwin was the first full-time pastor, meaning he did not need another job to earn enough money. In 1955, the pastor's salary was $3,500 out of the church's total budget of $4,984.
Reverend Earl Comfort became pastor in January 1959. The old parsonage was sold for $7,500. A new parsonage was built next to the Sunday School building in June 1961. Between 1962 and 1965, two more pieces of land were bought north of the original church. Both were used for parking. The church decided to build a new main worship area, called a sanctuary, next to the Sunday School building. This new addition would also have Sunday School rooms in its basement.
