HISTORY OF SAYRE WOODS BIBLE CHURCH

1956-2006

The Minute Men of the Conservative Baptist Association of New Jersey organized in 1956 the first Home Mission church which was later named Sayre Woods Baptist Church. Rev. Earl Cook, Clinton, NJ and Rev. Wesley Olsen, Hillside, NJ, surveyed Madison Park, Laurel Park, Haven Village and chose the location at Madison Park Elementary School.

CBA requested a missionary pastor to shepherd the new church and Rev. and Mrs. Edward F. Burckart were chosen. The Minute Men contributed folding chairs, hymn books, and Sunday school materials. In addition $1475 was received from the Minute Men from January 1957 through September 1957.

The first services were held on October 28, 1956 in a corner classroom at Madison Park School. Attendance at Sunday School was 36 and at the morning worship was 34. Those signing the guestbook that day were: George Moore and family; Mrs. M. Szpora; Mr. and Mrs. George Weston; Mr. and Mrs. Roberts; Roger Mulrooney; Barbara Morehart; Billy Morehart; Marlene Kratz; Mrs. H. Miller; Mrs. H. Macomber; Mr, and Mrs. M. Garrison; Mr. and Mrs. H. Le-re (writing unclear); Mr. and Mrs. Wm. E. Knowles; Mr. Wilson Dacus; Mrs. Robert Hermann.

Interesting enough, this was the Sunday of the time change and the first people to arrive that morning, one hour early at 8:30 AM, for Sunday School were Robert Hausler and his brother, Bill Hausler. Robert still attends the church today. Jean Smith was just a youngster when she first attended church here and is still here today.

Some of the first Sunday school teachers were: Tom and Ethel Clayton, Marie Hermann, Kathyrn Koisa, Helen Hils.

Charter members of the new church were: Mr. and Mrs. George Weston, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Dacus, Mr. and Mrs. William Morris (all on April 28, 1957); Mrs. Helen Hils, Mrs. Maxine Stappert (May 5, 1957); Mr. and Mrs. Tom Clayton (June 9, 1957); Mrs. Marie Hermann, Mrs. Florence Mulrooney, Mr. Robert Morris, and Mr. William Morris, Jr. (July 7, 1957).

The first Baptismal service was held at Old Bridge Baptist Church on June 16, 1957. Doing the baptism was Pastor Burckart; then Pastor Anderson on April 29, 1959, May 22, 1960; Pastor Robinson on January 21, 1962; Pastor Jones on June 16, 1963, March 8, 1964, November 21, 1965. Other churches used were Tabernacle Baptist, South River, Matawan Baptist, Grace Gospel Chapel, Millbridge Baptist, and First Baptist, Metuchen.

The Constitution of the church was adopted and the first officers elected on June 27, 1957. The officers were: Trustees: George Weston, Bill Morris, Tom Clayton, Wilson Dacus; Deacons: Wilson Dacus, Tom Clayton; Deaconess: Martha Dacus, Florence Mulrooney; clerk, George Weston; treasurer, Wilson Dacus.

Daily Vacation Bible School started July 1-12, 1957. First Sunday School picnic was August 3, 1957 at Squibb Park, North Brunswick.

George Wormald was pastor from October 13, 1957 to February 15, 1959. In October 1957 the church was incorporated with 12 members on the roll. Please click here for some pictures of early members of the church.

Beginning November 24, 1958, midweek prayer meeting and Bible study was held in the home of Wilson and Martha Dacus, and also used was the home of George and Zada Weston. The Women's Missionary Fellowship had it's beginning at the home of Mrs. Florence Mulrooney on April 9, 1959. Mrs. Mulrooney's husband, Robert, died in 1963 and his was the first funeral preached in the church by Pastor Jones.

Pastor Roy W. Anderson (Feb. 1959-July 1960) was educated at Wheaton College, received his master's degree at New York University, received his M.S. degree from The Graduate School of Library Science at Rutgers in NJ. He was ordained at Brookdale Baptist church (the charge given by his father Rev. Charles W. Anderson who was the pastor there) on June 12, 1959. His brother, Rev. Paul Anderson, pastor of the Linden Baptist Church then, gave the ordination message.

It soon became evident to the membership that a building and land were needed to make a permanent home for the church. It is interesting how the property that was eventually bought became known to the members. One of the young people was supposed to take some others to a retreat, but he had a flat tire and asked Wilson Dacus to take them. On his way back from doing this, Wilson saw the for sale sign on the side of the highway, so he let the church know of it. The outcome is history.

On February 22, 1959, the church voted to purchase the property located on Route 9 in Old Bridge consisting of 3.15 acres land, and a small house with basement which would serve as a parsonage, later as Sunday school rooms, and as a nursery. The cost of the land and the house was $20,000; the closing date of the sale was May 29, 1959. A used Jewish synagogue (picture as it looked when delivered and then as it looked after installation), formerly in Princeton, was advertised by JAF Construction company in New Egypt, NJ, costing $3,300, and was purchased by September 1959.

A used Jewish synagogue (picture as it looked when delivered and then as it looked after installation), formerly in Princeton, NJ, was advertised by JAF construction company in New Egypt, NJ, costing $3,300.

Pastor Anderson and his family moved into the parsonage on May 30, 1959, the first pastoral family to live in the parsonage. He was the first full time pastor at the church. He resigned from Sayre Woods to accept a missionary post to Puerto Rico,

An article in the Perth Amboy Evening News, 1 September 1959, shows Pastor Anderson looking at the building. It was brought up Rt. 9 on a truck, placed on cribbings; then two weeks later placed on footings and walls built by mason Ed Harrison, Wilson Dacus and other men of the church and friends. They excavated the basement for Sunday School rooms, enlarged the room for a sanctuary, and constructed a choir loft. Soon in the same month, 13 September 1959, the first church service was held in this building. There was room for parking and a house was already on the lot which was used first as a parsonage and later as the nursery and various other things.

People signing the guestbook on the first Sunday in the new building were: Mr. and Mrs. Clay Spence and children; Kathryn Koisa, Myrna Koisa, Mr. and Mrs. Ray McDonald and Faith; Susie Scott and Karen; Mrs. Marie Hermann and children; Mr. and Mrs. E.B. Weston and children; Mr. and Mrs. Don Cannon and children; Mrs. Neal; Mrs. Charlesanna Morris, Bob and Billy Morris; Maxie Stappert and children; Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Dacus and children; Pastor and Mrs. Roy Anderson and children; Mark Smith, Jean Smith; Florence Mulrooney; Mr. and Mrs. Tom Clayton and Linda.

The church building was heated by a pot belly stove the first winter. In the beginning there were no inside bathrooms, just an out house in the grove of trees at the back of the property. More importantly, the church had many Godly men and women who now had a place to worship God.

At some time after that, the First Presbyterian Church of South Amboy, NJ gave the church some pews and a piano.

The first "Christmas in November" sponsored by the Sunday School in November 1959, sent a package of gifts to the Navajo Children's Home, Cottonwood, Arizona. The first Men's Prayer Meeting was in March 1960.

The first of our members to become a missionary was Carol Lee Stoker, to Dahomey, West Africa, Sudan Interior Mission in November 1960. She married Rev. Robert C. Blaschke, also one of our missionaries there. Carol Lee went home to be with the Lord on November 14, 2001. She and her husband served the Lord well, and raised a beautiful family together.

Ronald Robinson was pastor from December 1960 to August 1962. He and his wife had formerly lived and ministered on Cape Cod. The nervous young pastor performed the first marriage in this church and also his first marriage ceremony on 26 December 1960. The bride was Carolyn Haseman who married Joseph Fedin. During Pastor Robinson's time here, choir practice was held on Sunday evenings at 5:30 and young people's meetings at 6 PM, and prayer meetings every Wednesday evening. The men of the church volunteered to scrub the basement floor and repaint it, and they plastered the walls.

Missionary Conference was first held April 28-29. 1962. Guests were Rev. Fred Zabel and Mrs. Zabel, Sudan Interior Mission, recently returned from Ethiopia, and Rev. Alex and Mrs. Lois Vincent, Wycliffe Bible Translators, recently returned from New Guinea (the Vincents are still dedicated servants ministering in New Guinea in 2006. Films and slides of the mission fields, a fellowship supper, and services featuring the missionaries were held.

Christian and Missionary Alliance Church of Cranford, NJ gave Sayre Woods Baptist Church a communion set in November 1962.

The first Easter sunrise service was held in April 1963 at the Tom Clayton farm. Sunday School picnics were held annually for some years at the Clayton farm. Later, some of the picnics were held at the Kirschman farm, as were baptisms. Later, the Easter sunrise services were held at Cheesequake Park and were open to the general public and other churches in the community. Tom Clayton died in the fall of 2005 in Florida. He was one of the faithful original members of the church, along with his widow, Ethel, and daughter, Linda Clayton.

On November 27, 1963 Pioneer Girls started for first grade girls up to around sixth grade. Ladies involved in the beginning as leaders were Jean Smith, Maxine Bertin, Anna Bissig (also guide), Ida Fizer, coordinator, and later Marianne Murr, first pal, then leader and then coordinator. This group met once a week; it was similar to Christian Girl Scouts, did service projects, made crafts and earned badges. Pioneer Girls had many good times at Zipps Ice Cream Parlour, Halloween parties, their own Olympic games, gym, cooking, picnics, puppet shows, beach parties, Christmas parties, face painting, Pioneer Girls Camp, and other healthy, fun, enriching, and exciting activities. They wrote letters to their missionary for the year, memorized Bible verses, and had Bible Study. Jean Smith worked as a leader for 35 years from 1963 until they disbanded in 1998. Dot Osbahr worked as a coordinator for many years with this group. Working as leaders in various years were Beverly Heinz, Pam Zollner, Linda Lawnik, Mary Kay Nesterwitz, Linda Hamadyk , Debbie Detamore, Edith Striffolino, Geri Dalik, Barbara Bauerdorf and others.

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