Old Tennent Presbyterian Church
Tennent Rd.
Tennent, N.J. 07763
Phone: 732-446-6299



History

The roots of Old Tennent Presbyterian Church reach back to the border region of Scotland over three hundred years ago. During the restoration period, under Charles II, Scottish Presbyterians became the object of intense persecution. Caught between an atocratic crown and the Avarice of landowners, an exodus began from this region that
was to spread to the Highlands and Ulster and span 200 years. New Jersey was one of the most diverse and tolerant of the colonies and attracted many of these “non-conformers”. By 1692, a small band of Presbyterians had built a tiny log church at “Free Hill” about five miles from the present sanctuary. The guiding light through this time was the Elder, Walter Ker. It was he who was instrumental in aligning the infant congregation with the newly formed Philadelphia Presbytery. This body ordained Mr. Boyd, as not only the first pastor of the congregation, but performed the first ordination of a Presbyterian in North America to the ministry of word and sacrament. It was also Ker who recruited the Tennent brothers, John and William, Jr. to the Free Hill Congregation.

Prosperity and the great awakening saw the congregation purchase the current property known as “White Oak Hill” and construct two buildings. The current Georgian structure was completed in 1751 using elements of the earlier (1730) meetinghouse.

This venerable structure haw heard the thunderous words of the great awakening preachers: Whitefield, Edwards, Brainard, Frelinghuysen and Burr. It has witnessed the first communion of David Brainard’s Indian Converts. It was granted, in 1749, the charter seal by King George II, along with the Presbyterian Churches of Allentown and Shrewsbury, N.J. It has sheltered the wounded on both sides of the Battle of Monmouth (June 1778).

Newly restored, Old Tennent Presbyterian Church continues to function as the worship place of the Tennent Congregation, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., truly a singular treasure (on the National Register of Historic Places).

The present minister is the Rev. Dr. Hugh A. MacKenzie.

St. Paul The Apostle Orthodox Church
24 Burke Rd.
Freehold Township, N.J. 07728
Phone 732-780-3158


History

Prompted by the inner working of the Holy Spirit, Bishop John of NYSSA, in the Jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, assigned Father David Moriak to organize and establish a viable Orthodox presence in the vicinity of Historic Freehold and the Shore Area of New Jersey in July 1975. The fledgling mission was placed under the heavenly patronage of St. Paul the Apostle as a zealous and vibrant inspiration to its communicants.

On October 5, 1975, the First Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the facilities of the Laura Donovan Elementary School in Freehold. On April 14, 1976, a parcel of land was purchased from the Elkins family as a permanent site for the new parish. St. Paul Parish
included a diverse and varied Orthodox Nationalities who continue seeking their salvation within its holy embrace.

In 1978, Father Kenneth Bachofsky was appointed to the parish. Under his guidance, improvements were made to the chapel, the icon screen installed and the garages converted into the kitchen and social hall.

On May 15, 2000, Father Robert E. Lucas was appointed Pastor with the mandate to construct a church and complete the parish complex. A building fund was initiated and pledges secured.

The parish is well known for its pierogi sales and periodic nut and poppy seed roll sales.