Raritan Dutch Reformed Church Marriage Records

							THE MOST HISTORIC PLACE IN MY TOWN
   (The Readington Reformed Church)




                   By
              Ashley Fields

Holland Brook School, Readington Township
If you leave my house and go west on Readington Road, you can‟t miss the Readington Reformed
Church. It is a large, white building surrounded by graves. The church has drawn my attention and
captured my imagination on many school bus rides. I‟ve wondered how old it was, what its Sunday
school was like, and if other kids my age attend religious classes. I chose the Read ington Reformed
Church, as the “Most Historic Place in My Town” because of my curiosity and driving desire to share
what I learned with others.

The Reformed Dutch Church of Readington was organized by Dutch settlers in 1718 and built in 1719.
The congregation grew out of the Reformation in Europe with its teachings rooted in the New
Testament.(1) Their first church building was made of logs and erected near the junction of the North and
South branches of the Raritan River. During its early years it was known as the „Church of the North
Branch.‟(2) Stephanie Stevens wrote in Readington‟s Reflections, “Situated at the confluence [flowing
together] of the North and South branches of the Raritan, the original log Church was about three miles
from its present location”.(3) Although I could not find a map specifically showing the original location, I
was able to study a map of Readington from the Official Land Records (1688-1765). This map was
fascinating as it contained notations from lots deeded to the “Reformed Church of North Branch for a
Church Farm” near the church‟s present location. By following York Road east to the intersection of the
North and South Branches of the Raritan River, it appears that the first church would have been east of
what is now Route 202 in the town of Branchburg.(4)

The records show that the first sermon preached in the „North Branch‟ church was on February 21, 1720
by Reverend Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen. On this same day, the first baptism in the new church
also took place. The baptismal records of this first baptism reads, “Matthew, son of Andreas and Adrianje
Ten Eyck.”(5)

The original log building was used for eighteen years until it burned down in 1737. (6) This original church
building was built because of Dutch settlers. They wanted a church that they could call their own. The
church was re-built in 1738. The new building was a frame structure that housed the church for the next
ninety-five years. The congregation located this second church about three miles west of the old log
church, in the township of Readington. Domine Frelinghuysen preached the first sermon in this new
church on October 7, 1739.(5)

Theodorus Frelinghuysen died in 1747 and his son Johannes Frelinghuysen, succeeded him. Johannes
was the second oldest son of Theodorus, and was studying for the ministry in Holland at the time of his
father‟s death. The church members extended an invitation for him to become their new pastor in 1747,
yet had to wait three years for him to complete his studies and become a qualified minister. Johannes
Frelinghuysen preached his first sermon on August 10, 1750. (2)

Johannes Frelinghuysen‟s ministry lasted only three and a half years. He died at the age of twenty-seven
in 1754. During his short term as pastor, Johannes did much to create peace between two fighting
factions within the church. These factions were the Coetus and the Conferentie parties. The Coetus were
a progressive group that wanted to break away from the mother church in Holland. The Conferentie
group wanted to maintain the formality, traditions, and ties with the governing church body in Amsterdam.
As the Coetus movement gained supporters, the Dutch Reformed Church in America did eventually
become independent of the church in Holland. Resistance to this change did not abate until after the
American Revolution.(2)

Following the death of Johannes Frelinghuysen, the church was again without a pastor for four years.
During this period, a visiting minister, Domine Fryenmoet, preached several times. Many of Fryenmoet‟s
views were different from those of the congregation‟s previous pastor, the senior Frelinghuysen. Many in
the congregation did not support Fryenmoet, so he did not become the church‟s pastor. (5)

Finally, in 1758, Reverend Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh became the new pastor after finishing his studies.
He was the first minister in the Dutch Church in America who was not required to study and become
licensed in Holland. His ministry lasted twenty five-years.(5) Dr. Hardenbergh was also chosen as the first
president of Queen‟s College, now Rutger‟s University. Reverend Hardenbergh was also a loyal patriot,
who supported independence during the American Revolution. He openly condemned the British from
the pulpit and a “price of 100 pounds was put on his head.” (2) The Readington Reformed Church History
tells this story:

       Once, when he was returning to his home in Raritan from the Neshanic Church, he was fired on,
       but the bullet passed through his hat without touching his head.( 2)

As an African-American, I wondered what I would find in the historical record about the Civil War period.
The Readington Reformed Church History states, “Although the Civil War was fought during Dr. Van
Liew‟s pastorate [Dr. John Van Liew, 1826-1869], there is little mention of it in church minutes.”(2) I asked
Stephanie Stevens, Hunterdon County historian, about the effects of the Civil War on the Readington
Reformed Church. She did not have any information on the Readington Church. However, she
mentioned that the Rockaway Dutch Church [a daughter church to Readington] was “split in two with
some of the congregation moving out of the church to worship elsewhere. One group favored the South,
the other the North.”(7)

I was also interested in how the Readington Reformed Church was affected by the civil rights movement
of the 1950s and 1960s. The Reverend John Itzen was Pastor from 1957-1966. His involvement in the
civil rights movement appeals to have influenced his decision to enter the ministry. In the summer of
1950, he took a job as a social worker in the Erie Neighborhood House in Chicago. (2) The Readington
Reformed Church History describes his experience:

       There he worked closely with Negro, Puerto Rican and white families of extremely low-income
       groups. There he heard their woes, saw their poverty and distress; there he clothed and fed them
       and found them jobs. “It opened my eyes wide,” he says, “to the pitiful needs of so many minority
       groups in this rich land.”(2)

Pastor Itzen entered the New Brunswick Theological Seminary in the fall of 1950 and graduated in 1953.
He also became a member of the NAACP ([National Association of the Advancement of Colored People]
and he went to Washington for “consultation with Congressmen on Civil Rights in 1964.” (2) The
Readington Reformed Church History goes on to state that his activities disturbed “a small but vocal part
of the congregation.”

Throughout it‟s two hundred and eighty-four year history, the Readington Reformed Church has had a
succession of pastors, and has endured times of war and disagreements among its members. It has also
survived destruction by two fires. As mentioned earlier, the first fire occurred in 1737. It resulted in a new
church being built in 1738.

As the congregation outgrew this second building, they constructed a third church at Readington in 1833.
Seven years later the name changed from the Church of the North Branch to the Reformed Dutch
Church of Readington. This church stood for thirty-one years. It was again destroyed by fire in 1864. The
fire started when a stovepipe overheated. The determined congregation rebuilt a new church that was
dedicated on July 20, 1865.(2) This is the same structure that stands today at 124 Readington Road in
Readington, New Jersey.

Throughout its history, the Readington Reformed Church has proven to be resilient in re-building its
structures and has shown its dedication to serving the community. Stephanie Stevens, Hunterdon
County Historian, in her e-mail to me, stated that the “Readington Reformed Church had a profound
contribution to the community. First, it provided spiritual guidance for the local people. All the important
events in life took place there, baptism, marriage and burials. It also served as a social place for those
farmers who lived miles apart. There were church gatherings, picnics, church suppers – all filled a happy
part in the lives of very hard working people.” (7)
On Sunday, March 9, 2003, I visited the church with my mom, and attended Sunday school and worship
service. I was able to experience this special ministry firsthand. I was glad to discover how much the
services were like my home church in Chicago. I was also surprised to be greeted by a woman pastor,
Reverend Cathy Gumpert. At the time of my visit, I had been immersed in the history of the church for
about a month. I had read about its founders, its challenges and traditions. Twenty-one pastors had
served there from 1719 until 2001. They were all men.

My friend Lauren is a member of the church. She showed me around and helped me make new friends
in Sunday school. Lauren also singes in the choir. She included me in everything that was going on.
During the service, I was invited to the front of the church with the other kids for the Children‟s Sermon.
Many of the church members greeted me, and when I told them I was writing about their church, they
were very helpful and encouraging. Pastor Cathy even agreed to give me an interview.

Cathy Gumpert is the Pastor at the Readington Reformed Church. She is a nice woman who likes
leading worship. I interviewed her and she said it was a big change for people who were used to having
guy pastors. She said there are some opportunities and some challenges being a woman pastor. She
said she likes what she does and she is happy.(8)

I also had the chance to interview a longtime member of the Readington Reformed Church. Her name is
Rosemary Brokaw and she has been a member of the church for forty-four years. Her words echoed
those of Stephanie Stevens when she spoke of the warmth and fellowship of the church, the progressive
dinners and movie night. When I asked her how the church had changed, Mrs. Brokaw also stated that
she had seen the church become more of a „mission church‟ over the years. (9)

There is a sign in front of the church that announces the times for Sunday school and worship service. It
also contains a saying, “when all is dark, God is light.” I think that the Readington Reformed Church is
the most historic place in Readington because its founders believed in their dream, built their dream, and
protected their dream in the face of adversity and dark times. Almost three hundred years later, their
courage and determination live on in those who practice their faith and „share the light‟ of fellowship,
communion and service in a sanctuary surrounded by its silent guardians on a hillside in Readington.
For copies of the following inserts in Ashley‟s Essay, please contact the Hunterdon County Cultural and
         Heritage Commission at 908-788-1256 or email them at cultural@co.hunterdon.nj.us



                                              Sheet 14
                                  First Church Building - Rendering
                                             1719-1737

                                            Sheet 15
                                Second Church Building – Rendering
                                          1738 - 1833

                                              Sheet 16
                                  Third Church Building – Rendering
                                      Erected 1833, Burnt 1864

                                             Sheet 17
                            Fourth Church – Photograph by Ashley Fields
                                          1665 to present

                                               Sheet 18
                                         Map of Readington
                                        Official Land Records
                                              1688-1765
                                       Map Series #4 – Sheet E
                                BIBLIOGRAPHY


1.   “Readington Reformed Church Welcomes You” – Brochure

2.   Readington Reformed Church History, 1719-1969 by Lorena Vincent Cole

3.   Readington‟s Reflections, Compiled by the Readington Township Bicentennial
     Committee 1976

4.   Official Land Records, map of Readington, 1688-1765, Map Series #4, Sheet E

5.   History of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties, New Jersey, with Illustrations and
     Biographical Sketches, Compiled by James P. Snell, 1881

6.   Historical Discourse and Addresses, 175th Anniversary, Reformed Church,
     Readington N.J. 1719-1894, October 17, 1894

7.   E-mail from Stephanie Stevens, March 31, 2003

8.   Interview with Current Readington Reformed Church Pastor Cathy Gumpert, March
     31, 2003

9.   Phone Interview with longtime church member Rosemary Brokaw, April 1, 2003