Newfoundland United Methodist Church to celebrate 175th anniversary

The United Methodist Church at Newfoundland will celebrate its 175th anniversary Sunday, Sept. 13, marking nearly two centuries of faith, fellowship and community service in northern New Jersey.

The celebration will begin with a 10 a.m. worship service at the church, 65 La Rue Road, followed by a community lunch featuring family recipes and dishes from the church’s heritage cookbooks.

The church’s history dates to April 8, 1851, when a circuit preacher organized the first gathering in Newfoundland. At the time, Newfoundland was one of 19 stops on a circuit that included Snufftown, now Stockholm; Milton; Hanfield, now Hewitt; and West Milford. Early meetings were held wherever space was available, including residences, barns and schools.

In December 1866, local families met at a neighborhood schoolhouse to plan a permanent church. Construction began in 1867 on Main Street, now Route 23 South, on land donated by Peter Decker and with timber provided by Trustee President John W. Bigalow. The original church was completed debt-free in 1870 at a cost of $2,400.

The congregation continued to grow as the surrounding community expanded. A parsonage was built in 1887, and by 1907, church records showed 74 children attending Sunday school.

In 1973, members held a “Grand March” from the original Route 23 building to the church’s new location on La Rue Road. Further growth led to an expansion of Fellowship Hall in 1980 and the addition of an educational wing in 2004.

The educational space now houses Bright Beginnings, the church-operated daycare and preschool serving infants through preschool-aged children.

The church also operates Angels Community Thrift Shop on its grounds. The shop provides affordable clothing, household goods and other items, with proceeds supporting community outreach.

Throughout the year, the congregation supports local residents through food and holiday meal drives, back-to-school supply collections for the Center for Family Resources and donations to a local food pantry. The church also hosts a monthly Zoom book club and a women’s Bible study.

As part of the anniversary celebration, the congregation is collecting photographs, memories and other items documenting the church’s history. Residents with photos or stories to share can email them to newfoundlandumc@gmail.com for possible inclusion in the anniversary display.