History Report

1. I purchased the book "The Lone Arranger" in order to find out how to arrange the Christ Church Archives that are currently stored in three file cabinets and in a room.  I consulted with the UCC Archivist about how to organize the archives.  I may ask students from Rutgers who are studying to become librarians and archivists to help some time next year.

2. I was able to find the name of the architects of Christ Church in a book housed in the Summit Library entitled "Images of American Summit" by Patricia E. Meola.  The Architects of the "new" building (our present building" were C. Fred Bertrand and John N. Cady.  The seating capacity of the church was 350 and the style is English Gothic.  The church was originally the First New Baptist Church of Summit.   This was the third building of the church.

3. A brief history of the church from several sources:

 In 1875, the climate was right for establishing in Summit a Baptist Church, now Christ Church a (a member of the United Church of Christ.) [i]On March 17 1876 fifteen men and women met together to form the "First Baptist Church" of Summit. "The Presbyterian West Summit Chapel was sitting empty.  It was offered to the Baptists provided they would assume its $1000.00 mortgage and maintain worship for at least a year. "[ii]  In 1886 property was purchased at the corner of Morris Avenue and Locust Drive which is now St. Teresa's playground. In 1888 a new meeting house was dedicated there which served until 1904 when the present edifice was completed at 561 Springfield Ave. The building has been enlarged twice since then. In the 1930's our membership was opened to all denominations and in 1958, the church dropped the denominational name to become Christ Church and become affiliated with the United Church of Christ as well as the American Baptist Church.

4. The history can continue to include the renovation to attach the separate Sunday School Building

5. I have copies of the documents and I know the original documents of organization are in the file cabinets.  I could use help in arranging the archives.

6. I also plan to take the oral history of some of the older members of the church, maybe even by phone because some of them have moved away.

Addendum

At the Oral History Conference in Oklahoma City last month I met some young women who attend Kean College.  They have learned to take the Oral History of  people who were affected by Sandy.  They would be willing to help me with the oral history for a fee

 

 

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[i] Edmund B. Raftis  Summit New Jersey From Poverty Hill to The Hill City  Great Swamp Press Seattle 1996  p 101

[ii] ibd