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 church located in the Manahawkin area of Stafford Township. This historic building is in Ocean County, New Jersey. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 3, 1973. The church is important because of its role in education, military history, and religion over many years.
Contents
History of Manahawkin Baptist Church
Early Beginnings (1745-1770)
The first church in this area opened on August 24, 1758. Some local people believe a place of worship was built 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 is now Ocean County. The first missionary, Reverend Thomas Thompson, served the area from 1745 to 1751. He was sent by the "English Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts." This early church was very welcoming. It helped people from several different Protestant faiths.
Forming the Baptist Society
In 1770, Captain Thomas Webb visited the village. He preached at the church and started a Baptist Society with nine members. By 1774, when the church chose its first pastor, Reverend H. Crossley, the group had grown to 19 members.
Revolutionary War and Rebuilding
During the American Revolutionary War, the church played an important role. In a fight called the "Skirmish at Manahawken," wounded soldiers from the Manahawkin Militia were cared for inside the church. Several 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. The Baptist Society did not start up again until 1801. In 1805, the church welcomed many new members, growing to sixty-eight people. On April 27, 1857, the church officially became a legal organization in New Jersey.
By 1864, the church walls were getting weak. A group was formed to start remodeling and rebuilding the structure. The rebuilt church, which included parts of the original building, was finished under the leadership of Reverend A. H. Folwell.
Dedication and Growth (1867-1900s)
On July 10, 1867, a special dedication service was held. This was during the time Reverend E.S. Browe was pastor. Rebuilding and redecorating the church cost $2,776. Most of this money came from church members and friends.
The church celebrated its 100th anniversary as a Baptist Society on August 25, 1870. For many years, until after 1800, the church building was the only school in Stafford. The Bible was the main textbook used for learning.
After 1880, several ministers served the church, usually for about a year. The first house for the pastor, called a parsonage, was built in 1882 near the church on Route 9. In 1898, a new organ was bought. This organ likely stayed in the church until a Hammond organ was purchased in 1948.
Changes and Community Service (1901-1948)
From 1901 to 1948, many pastors served the church, some working 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. After this, the steeple was made shorter to its current height.
During World War II, church member Jim Shanklin and seminary student Jack Kilbert led worship services. This continued until 1943 when Kilbert died while serving in the military.
Modern Era and Expansion (1948-1965)
In April 1948, Reverend Lauren D Rhine became the new pastor. The church had just been redecorated. 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. It had eight teachers and thirty-nine students. By 1950, the vacation Bible school had twelve teachers and sixty-eight students.
In the winter of 1952, a new parsonage was bought. It was located on the corner of Main and Beach Streets in Manahawkin. Reverend and Mrs. Lauren Rhine were the first to live there. The church membership reached fifty-eight people. The church also supported two missionaries working in other countries.
From 1952 to 1955, the church bought land across from the existing building on Route 9. They planned to build a new Sunday school there. The building would have a basement and one floor. A church member and local builder, Bill Shinn, helped oversee the construction. Many volunteers helped build it.
John Erwin became pastor on July 6, 1953. He was the first full-time pastor, meaning he did not need another job to support himself. In 1955, most of the church's budget went to the pastor's salary.
Reverend Earl Comfort became pastor in January 1959. The old parsonage was sold, and a new one was built next to the Sunday School building in June 1961. Between 1962 and 1965, the church bought two more pieces of property. These were on the north side of the original church and 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.
