Christ Church records

The parish of Christ Church in the city of New Brunswick was founded in 1742 by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. With construction beginning in 1743, a native stone church was completed in the 1750s. The land where the church was built was owned by Philip French, the largest landowner in New Brunswick. French charged the church one peppercorn a year in rent due on January 1, if requested. In 1750, the Rev. M. Wood was the first missionary assigned to Christ Church. In 1754, he was replaced by Reverend Samuel Seabury, later consecrated the first American bishop of the Episcopal Church in 1784. In 1757, the Rev. M. MacKean was appointed to replace Seabury. In 1761, Christ Church received a charter of incorporation from the King. MacKean was replaced by Leonard Cutting in 1762, and in 1767 by the Rev. Abraham Beach. Beach reported that he had a number of African Americans at the mission. In 1773, the church tower was completed. It is a historic landmark and one of the three historic structures in the city singled out for preservation during World War II. The present bell is run before every service; it is the second to hang in the tower.

During the American Revolution, initially services continued. The third reading of the Declaration of Independence took place next to the church in 1776. When Beach was threatened as he was about to say the prayers for the King, he closed the church from July to December 1776 and read prayers from his home on the Raritan River and other safe churches in New Jersey. British troops occupied New Brunswick from December 1776 to June 1777. Damage to the amount of 40 pounds was done to Christ Church during the British occupation. Beach remained at Christ Church until 1784. The organizing meeting of the new Episcopal Church in the United States was held at Christ Church in 1784, as well as the organizing convention of the Diocese of New Jersey in 1785. He was followed by several rectors who served short terms.

In 1801, the Rev. John Croes of Swedesboro, New Jersey, who had fought in the Revolution, was called as permanent rector. He also taught at Rutgers and at a girls’ school. In 1803, the spire was struck by lightning and burned to the ground but was rebuilt in a few months. At this time, enslaved persons belonging to parishioners were baptized at Christ Church, including some children who lived with the rector. In 1815, Croes became Bishop of New Jersey, but continued as rector. Upon his death in 1832, he was succeeded by his son John Croes, Jr. who resigned in 1839.

Croes was followed by Christ Church’s longest-serving rector, Alfred Stubbs, who served from 1840 to 1882. The parish grew and flourished during this period. Under Stubbs’ leadership, a valuable organ was presented to the church in 1842. In 1846, property was purchased for a parsonage. At this time, Mary Leupp also presented property adjoining the churchyard. In 1852, the old church was taken down with the exception of the tower. The new building was designed by Messrs. Wills and Dudley. Much of the material from the old church was used in the new structure, which accommodated a larger number of worshipers. The new building was consecrated in 1854. The Choir Building was built in 1874 in an Italianate/Georgian Style. In 1860, the cornerstone was laid for St. John the Evangelist church as a mission of Christ Church, which became independent in 1866.

Elisha Joyce served as curate the last year of Stubbs’s pastorate and was elected rector in 1883. He introduced a vested choir of men and boys in 1893, and a new organ was acquired in 1905. Under Joyce, the Parish Building was constructed in 1897 in a Romanesque Revival style. At this time, poet Alfred Joyce Kilmer (1886–1918), was associated with the parish and named after the rector. The Johnson family of the Johnson & Johnson Company were also affiliated with the church.

Elisha Joyce was replaced by Herbert Parrish, who served from 1916 to 1929. Under Dr. Parrish, Christ Church began to build an endowment fund and began to eliminate “pew rents” as a way of supporting the church. A Sunday School was organized in Highland Park, which became All Saints Church. A new organ was installed in the gallery. Mrs. R. W. Johnson donated a stone cloister to connect the church to the parish house, which was completed in 1924, and final purchases of property on Paterson Street were accomplished. In 1920, a rood screen was purchased.

The next rector, Walter Herbert Stowe, served from 1929 to 1966. Under Stowe, a rectory was built at 184 College Avenue. The organ was rebuilt by Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company in 1957. Stowe was active in the General Convention of the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of New Jersey, where he served as historiographer.

Stowe was succeeded by Charles Newbery, who served from 1966 to 1969. At this time, the urban core of New Brunswick, where Christ Church is located, had declined and the city experienced social unrest and upheaval. The old altar was moved to the Clarke Chapel and a sacristy was added to the church. The rearrangement of the choir and institution of a free-standing altar were the first major changes since the late nineteenth century.

Frank Van Hise Carthy took over as rector in 1970. In 1978–79, there was extensive renovation of the organ, renovation and restoration of the tower including the installation of carillon bells and the development of the Nicholas Room as a church parlor. Christ Church joined in the celebration of the bicentennial in 1976. In 1978, the Christ Church property was listed jointly with the Hiram Market District on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1978, Reverend Carthy assumed priestly and pastoral oversight of All Saints Church, Highland Park, while continuing to serve at Christ Church until 1986. Redevelopment of downtown New Brunswick began. Martin Gutwein served as curate introducing a special ministry to youth. Deacon Rev. Carol Kerbel, who served from 1980 to 1981 started St. Cecelia’s women’s choir, Christ Church’s first all-female choir.

William Edwin Arnold (1987–89) started plans for the historic restoration of the church and protected the church’s architectural integrity during the planning of the large parking deck next door. The vestry selected an architect and several contractors to pursue restoration and renovation work on the church. The first phase of this work included the re-enforcement and epoxy consolidation of the Tower beams. Christ Church was listed individually on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places in 1987 and on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

Joan Fleming, who served as interim rector, became Christ Church’s first female rector in 1993. Under her leadership, the parish grew in numbers and diversity. Rev. Fleming introduced many programs such as Black Heritage, International Night, the Hunger Ministry (the forerunner of Elijah’s Promise) and English as a Second Language. The church participated in local ecumenical efforts such as the Interfaith Emergency Shelter. In 2000, the vestry selected an architect and several contractors to pursue further restoration and renovation work on the parish house and the tower. Under Fleming’s leadership, the new Richards-Fowkes organ was purchased and installed, completed in 2002. Joan Fleming retired in 2004.

After an interim period, Deborah Meister became the second woman to be elected rector in 2006, serving until 2011. She introduced monthly House Eucharists at parishioners’ homes. Under her leadership the Holy Innocents Chapel, which functioned as a youth room as well as a children’s chapel was refurbished. She oversaw the acquisition of the LEVAS II hymnal and the expansion and strengthening of the food pantry. Same-gender couples were blessed at Christ Church. Meister presided over the Phase II Exterior Restoration Project. She also championed innovative educational adult programming.

After another interim, Joanna Hollis was elected Christ Church’s third woman and first African-American rector in 2013, serving until 2025.