History of the First Congregational Church of Chester
Now available:
The First Congregational Church of Chester, New Jersey is celebrating our 275th Anniversary in 2015. Our church historian, Joan S. Case decided to compile the church’s history to commemorate this milestone. Much of the material in this book is derived from the history, written in 1832 by Pastor Abner Morse, and is still in the church’s possession. Pastor Morse traced the story of the Chester Congregationalists back to their origin in England, their first settlement in Southold, Long Island, and their subsequent removal to New Jersey. The later year’s history has been gleaned from church minutes and the church historians who have kept the records through the years. Available directly through the Church or at Blurb: The History of the First Congregational Church
For information email – HistoryofFCC@gmail.com
Pastors of the First Congregational Church of Chester
| Pastorate At | Minister | Started-Ended | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Island | John Youngs | 1640 | – |
| Long Island | Joshua Hobart | 1674 | – |
| Long Island | Benjamin Woolsey | 1720-1736 | 16 |
| Long Island | James Davenport | 1738-1746 | 8 |
| Long Island | William Troop | 1743-1753 | 10 |
| Roseitecus | Eliab Byrom | 1743-1753 | 10 |
| Roxbury | Samuel Sweasy, Jr. | 1747-1773 | 26 |
| Roxbury | Ebenezar Bradford | 1775-1779 | 4 |
| Roxbury | David Baldwin | 1779-1785 | 6 |
| Roxbury | James Youngs | 1786 | 4 |
| Chester | Stephen Overton | 1801-March 1828 | 29 |
| Chester | Abner Morse | Fall 1828-1833 | 4 |
| Chester | Charles Jones | 1833-1835 | 2 |
| Chester | John Fishpool | 1835-1836 | 1 |
| Chester | Lewis Halsey Terrill | 1838,1839 | 1 |
| Chester | Luke Stoutenburgh | Oct. 6,1841-Dec.17,1867 | 26 |
| Chester | James T. Evans | 1868-1871 | 3 |
| Chester | Benjamin F. Bradford | 1872-1875 | 3 |
| Chester | Frank A. Johnson | 1875-1889 | 14 |
| Chester | E. B. England | 1890-1894 | 4 |
| Chester | A. Lincoln Shear | Nov. 1,1894-Apr. 1,1896 | 1 1/2 |
| Chester | Spencer H. Bray | May 3,1896-Aug. 1,1897 | 1 |
| Chester | Gervase A. Viets | Jan. 1,1898-Feb. 3,1899 | 1 month |
| Chester | Charles T. Wood | June 1,1899-Dec. 1,1905 | 5 1/2 |
| Chester | John W. Morgan | Feb. 3, 1907 | – |
| Chester | John Lewis Evans | May 7,1909-June 13,1913 | 4 |
| Chester | Charles H.B. Seliger | Nov. 23,1913-May 2,1915 | 1 1/2 |
| Chester | William T. Frazier | June 15,1915-June 10,1917 | 2 |
| Chester | Carl E. Bash | July 1,1917-July 1,1918 | 1 |
| Chester | John Burton | – | – |
| Chester | George Kelly | May 2,1922-Mar. 5,1925 | 3 |
| Chester | Perle Sellers | 1925-1928 | 3 |
| Chester | Merrit A. Soper | Jan. 1,1930-Apr. 1933 | 3 |
| Chester | G.B. Bruvold | June 1,1933-May 1, 1935 | 2 |
| Chester | Basil L. Johnson | July 1,1935-Nov. 14,1938 | 3 |
| Chester | Julius L. Brasher | Jan. 15,1939-Apr. 26,1942 | 3 |
| Chester | Robert E. Marston | May 15, 1942-Oct. 8, 1944 | 1 |
| Chester | Joseph Zezzo | Feb. 1,1945-Mar. 1, 1952 | 7 |
| Chester | Charles D. Friou | June 29,1952-Apr. 30, 1956 | 4 |
| Chester | Edwin R. Lincoln | June 1, 1956-Oct. 4, 1959 | 3 |
| Chester | John Albert Corby | Mar. 6, 1960-Mar. 31, 1963 | 3 |
| Chester | Joyce Dickin | June 1,1963 | 3 months |
| Chester | H. Lewis Cutler | Sept. 1,1963-Dec. 31,1964 | 1 |
| Chester | Donald Freeman | 1965 | 6 months |
| Chester | Leroy N. Hastings | June 1,1965-Feb. 1,1972 | 7 |
| Chester | Henry Lambin | Mar. 1,1972-May 1,1972 | 2 months |
| Chester | Nelson Lamb | June 1,1972-Aug.1975 | 3 |
| Chester | Thomas Witzel | Feb. 8,1976-Aug.1979 | 3 1/2 |
| Chester | Robert Hibshman | Dec. 23,1979-Aug.1980 | 9 months |
| Chester | Eugene Priddy | Nov. 1980-Feb. 1981 | 4 months |
| Chester | James Futrell | Mar. 1,1981-Apr. 30, 1987 | 6 |
| Chester | David Wouri | Jan. 17,1988-Mar. 31, 1992 | 6 |
| Chester | Scott Hoffman | Nov. 1, 1992-Mar. 4,2007 | 14 1/2 |
| Chester | Allan Briggs | Mar. 23,2008-Aug.2014 | 6 |
| Chester | Layne A. Mershimer | July 1, 2015 |