[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 60 (Thursday, May 5, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E821]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE 275TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST REFORMED CHURCH OF POMPTON 
                                 PLAINS

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 5, 2011

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the First 
Reformed Church of Pompton Plains located in Morris County, New Jersey 
which is celebrating its 275th Anniversary.
  Forty years before the birth of our Nation, a small band of Dutch 
farmers gathered together in a new land. It was there that the First 
Reformed Church of Pompton Plains was dedicated on April 7, 1736, under 
the pastorate of the Reverend Johannes Van Driessen. The church 
prospered in its early years, with a membership of 72 by the spring of 
1738. A new building was erected in 1771 on land donated by Theunis 
Dey. This new church building, the first in the community, was located 
on what is now the Newark-Pompton Turnpike, the site of the present 
church.
  Throughout the years, the church grew physically and spiritually. One 
hundred years after it was built, the church was enlarged and improved 
under the leadership of Reverend John Van Neste Schenck. The church was 
rededicated on November 22, 1871, seven months after its 100th 
anniversary. It was also on that day that the church family mourned the 
passing of their energetic minister.
  Addressing the needs of members near and far, several small chapels 
were built. The first, known as Grace Chapel, was built next to the 
church for the purpose of education. Other chapels were located in 
various nearby communities, including Wayne, Lincoln Park, and Towaco. 
Throughout the years many chapels came to form independent churches, 
most of which remain a part of the Reformed Church of America.
  The 1900s brought tremendous growth to the church. With more people 
joining the congregation, the financial status of the church enabled 
the construction of a ``church house'' in 1926, and a fellowship hall, 
known as ``Friendship Hall'' in 1965. But the period also brought 
tragedy. On October 24, 1937, the sanctuary was almost completely 
destroyed by fire. While the actual cause of the inferno was never 
determined, faulty wiring seemed probable. The tragic loss, however, 
brought out the invigorating spirit of the congregation and its dynamic 
minister, the Rev. Eugene H. Keator. A year and a half later, on April 
7, 1939, a new building, larger than the old, with a new steeple and 
bell, was dedicated. This remarkable historic Christopher Wren-style 
edifice was completed debt-free.
  In 1953, the church acquired the 1788 stone Mandeville home, a one-
time Pompton Plains post office, adjacent to the church proper. Today 
it is the church manse. Along with the sanctuary and Grace Chapel, it 
is presently undergoing consideration for inclusion in the State and 
National Historic Registries.
  The remains of soldiers from the Revolutionary War to the present 
find their final resting place in the church cemetery. A walk about the 
grounds provides a glimpse into the church's vital part in our Nation's 
rich history. This year, in remembrance of the 150th Anniversary of the 
Civil War, the church will dedicate veteran's markers identifying more 
than 600 of our American heroes.
  The First Reformed Church of Pompton Plains is a community of faith 
with ``Open Doors, Open Hearts and Open Hands.'' During this special 
year, under the spiritual leadership of Reverend Kathleen Edwards 
Chase, may their spirit continue to rise.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
The First Reformed Church of Pompton Plains as they celebrate its 275th 
Anniversary.

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