Our Church History

 

1846—First building completed and dedicated, the cost was $2,200.  The land was purchased from John Smith for $150.

1860—Mariner’s Bethel Church formed from Emmanuel group with Joseph Guest as preacher.

1884-85—Saint Paul's Methodist Church was started from Emmanuel People

1901—Belfry tower and bell were added.

1907—Wings were added on the sides to provide Sunday School rooms.

1950—Property from the Diver family was used for Wesley Hall

1955-56—Wesley Hall on Church Street was constructed to house the Sunday School classes

1959--Old Church was torn down and this one was dedicated.

1993—A cement ramp was added to the front of the church to accommodate handicap members and visitors.

Within the Emmanuel Church archives are photographs of the churches through the ages.  There have been several interesting structures through the years and today we enjoy a beautiful house of worship dedicated in 1959.  On the "Home" page, you can see a picture of our church.

The members of the church enjoy discussing Emmanuel's historical significance to the area.  Please contact us with questions regarding Emmanuel's history.

 

Cemetery Around Church

 

 1809 - The earliest burial Martha Boqua

 1811 - Rev. John Boqua

 1990 - Willard Roberts

 1993 - The latest burial Elizabeth Roberts

Visitors returning to the Salem County area will frequently inquire at Emmanuel for plot locations of deceased relatives.  We invite you to join our Sunday service during your visit to the area.  The cemetery grounds immediately surrounding the church are cared for by our parishioners and the cemetery grounds across Board Street are cared for by an independent organization.  

There are many very interesting headstones in both locations that visitors enjoy while exploring the cemetery grounds.  

Church Celebrates

Church Celebrates

A sacrament is a symbol or sign that helps us remember and appreciate God's salvation in Jesus Christ.  God gave symbols or signs long before Jesus came to earth.  For example, God used the rainbow to symbolize his promise to Noah.  But sacraments are ceremonies begun by Christ for use as symbols in the Church. Believers find Christ in a special way through the sacraments. 

United Methodist, like most Protestants, recognize two sacraments: Baptism, and the Lord's Supper (Communion). 

 

 

Top Questions

Baptism and Confirmation

• Do I have to be baptized in order to be saved?

  No, but baptism is a gift of God's grace to be received as part of the journey of salvation.
  
  

• Does The United Methodist Church accept the baptism of other denominations?

  Yes, The United Methodist Church recognizes the baptism of other Christian denominations.
  
  

Beliefs and Social Issues

• What is the creed of the United Methodist Church?

  The Methodist Social Creed originated...to express Methodism's outrage over the lives of the millions of workers in factories, mines, mills, tenements and company towns.
  
  

• Why do we say creeds?

  The United Methodist Hymnal contains nine creeds or affirmations. Only two of these (Nicene and Apostles') are strictly considered to be creeds because they are products of ecumenical councils.
  
  

Christian Year

• What are Chrismons?

  Ornaments made from Christian symbols (or Chrismons, a contraction for 'Christ monograms').
  
  

• What do the candles in our Advent wreath mean? Why is there one rose candle and one white candle?

  The Advent wreath, four candles on a wreath of evergreen, is shaped in a perfect circle to symbolize the eternity of God.
  
  

Communion

• Can children take communion?

  It is up to the parents to decide when their child should begin receiving communion.
  
  

• Do United Methodists believe the communion elements actually become the body and blood of Christ?

  No, we believe that the change is spiritual.
  
  

Giving

• How are local church apportionments figured?

  The apportionment formula used by the General Council on Finance and Administration is in the Financial Commitment of The United Methodist Church 2005-2008 booklet.
  
  

• How should our church create its budget?

  The Stewardship Office of the General Board of Discipleship provides resources and offers guidance to local churches on preparing a budget and planning a giving campaign.
  
  

Leadership

• What is the process for changing the name of an existing local church?

  Each annual conference may have its own policies and procedures regarding name changes.
  
  

• Where can I find charge conference forms?

  The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) offers charge conference forms on their Web site.
  
  

Mission/Volunteering

• Are there volunteer opportunities for adults?

  Volunteer opportunities are available for individuals and for teams throughout the U.S. and worldwide. The United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) office organizes volunteer efforts for adults on a short-term basis in the areas of disaster relief, teaching and Bible study, construction projects and medical relief.
  
  

• How can I help with disaster relief?

  The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) provides emergency food, shelter and medicine after natural and man-made disasters, provides humanitarian relief to refugees and displaced persons and works to overcome world hunger and poverty.
  
  

People, Places and Things

• How can I contact a United Methodist pastor?

  Some annual (regional) conference Web sites feature a clergy directory. If you know the conference in which the pastor serves, you may find information on the conference Web site. The list of conferences appears on the Directory Web site.
  
  

• How can I contact my bishop?

  The Meet Your Bishop Web page allows you to locate key contact information, biographies, photos for each active bishop of The United Methodist Church.
  
  

Worship

• Can I get married in any United Methodist church that I choose?

  Local United Methodist churches set their own wedding policies and fees
  
  

• Can I have my former pastor come back to perform my wedding?

  In The United Methodist Church, pastors can only conduct services in another church by invitation.
  
  

 

PREACHERS OF EMMANUEL

 

Rev. George Hitchens                1860 - 1861

Rev. Hamilton S. Norris              1862 - 1863

Rev. James F. Morell                      1864 - 1865

Rev. Joseph Ashbrook           

1866 - 1868

Rev. Joseph G. Crate             

1869 - 1871

Rev. Socrates Townsend             1872 - 1873

Rev. Lucius O. Manchester       1874 - 1876

Rev. James H. Payran              1877 - 1879

Rev. Joseph B. Turpin           

1880 - 1882

Rev. John H. Hutchinson            1883 - 1884

Rev. William Margerum         

1885 - 1887

Rev. Lewis M. Atkinson             1888 - 1889

Rev. Thomas C. Parker                   1889 - 1890

Rev. Daniel W. McIntire              1891 - 1895

Rev. Joseph E. Willey              1896 - 1897

Rev. George T Harris                1898 - 1899

Rev. B.C. Lippincott                 1900 - 1902

Rev. Joseph H. Boyd                      1903 - 1905

Rev. W. Stone                          1906 - 1907                    

Rev. Edgar A. Miller Jr.                  1908 - 1913

                                                 Rev. Cornelius V.D. Conover      1914 - 1915                    

Rev. William A. Boyd               1915 -1916                    

Rev. Walter F. Atkinson             1917 - 1918           

Rev. Ralph S. Carlisle                     1919 - 1921                    

Rev. Francis E. Purcell                   1922 - 1923           

Rev. Charles G. Book                     1924 - 1926           

Rev. Edward Chambers                   1927 - 1931                    

Rev. Henry B. White                       1932 - 1933           

Rev. Lawrence Correll                     1934 - 1935                    

Rev. Howard Stratton                      1936 - 1940

Rev. George Johnson                      1940 - 1947

Rev. Stanley McCleave                   1947 - 1954

Rev. G. Nelson Moore                     1954 - 1955

Rev. Charles Wilcock, Jr.                1956 - 1960

Rev. Lawrence E. Moore                 1961 - 1962

Rev. Donald T. Phillips                    1962 - 1965                  

Rev.Charles Jones                          1965 - 1970  

Rev. Eldrich Campbell                     1970 - 1977                    

Rev. J.D. Overcash                         1977 - 1983

Rev. James E. Doran                      1983 - 1988

Rev. James W. Sainsbury               1988 - 1990

Rev. Charles Coblentz                  1990 - 1994

Rev. David A. Repenning                 1994 - 2000

Rev. Truitt Andress                         2000 - 2006

Rev. Ayn Masker                            2006- 2009

Rev. Dr. James Peterson

2009 -