PRESBYTERIAN SCHURCH OF SCHOOLEY'S MOUNTAIN HISTORY, WASHINGTON TWP., MORRIS, NEW JERSEY

Copyright (c) 2000 by Stewart J. A. Woolever, Jr. (sjaw@citilink.net).

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THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SCHOOLEY'S MOUNTAIN.
The Presbyterian Church of Schooley's Mountain is at Schooley's Mountain
Springs, the popular summer resort. It is a young organization, not large in
numbers, but filling an important field. It has a commodious and elegant
church edifice, and sustains a very efficient and prosperous Sabbath-school.
For more than half a century there have been religious meetings sustained
here, largely by the visitors at the hotels. A stone church was built in
1825 upon ground conveyed in trust to the trustees of Princeron Theological
Seminary, and the present edifice was erected upon the same ground in 1870.
There was, however, no distinct church organization here until March 17th
1875, when the Presbytery of Morris and Orange constituted this as the
Presbyterian Church of Schooley's Mountain. This action was the result of a
remarkable revival which had occurred during the months preceding. Rev.
Samuel Sawyer, then the settled pastor of the Presbyterian church of
Pleasant Grove, had by invitation made this an outpost. Here for some years
he had been preaching once on the Sabbath. Convinced that there was more
than usual interest in this community, he began extra services here late in
1874. These continued and grew in interest until over seventy were
converted. So large a harvest seemed to indicate the need of a granary
here--hence this church. The basis of organization was the reception of
twenty-four members from sister churches, who were here constituted the
Presbyterian Church of Schooley's Mountain. At the first communion
forty-eight others united by profession of faith, and two by certificate,
making in all seventy four persons. During the six years that have since
passed this church has maintained regular worship, both public and social.