Our Story
The roots of both Church of the Transfiguration and St. Andrew’s go through St. John’s in Boonton. Rev. Henry B. Wilson, rector of St. John’s, was instrumental in the establishment of the early Episcopal churches in both Lincoln Park and Towaco.
St. Andrew’sRev. Wilson conducted services in Lincoln Park on June 10, 1917, at the Lincoln Park Firehouse. The service had eighteen in attendance, and it was decided that the new congregation would be named after St. Andrew the fisherman.
On October 9, 1921, St. Andrew’s held its first services in the new chapel on the corner of Zeliff Place and Main St. The chapel is currently utilized by the thrift shop.
In June of 1931, Rev. John C. Moore was appointed Vicar. At the same time, he was also the Vicar of Church of the Transfiguration in Towaco. Rev. Moore oversaw the construction of Thorpe Hall.
A new contemporary church building was completed in 1958 at the site of the chapel. The chapel was relocated to its current location and attached to Thorpe Hall.
Church of the Transfiguration (COTT)Rev. Henry B. Wilson held the first services in Towaco on August 10, 1913. The service was held at the Methodist Church located on Route 202 in Towaco, with nineteen in attendance. It seems many in attendance in those days were New Yorkers taking advantage of the cooler summers in the country. Their home church in NYC was known as the “little church around the corner” — Church of the Transfiguration.
In August of 1914, services continued at the corner of Two Bridges and Hewlett Roads at the Towaco Athletic Club. This arrangement continued until the building was purchased by the diocese and remodeled as a chapel.
On June 3, 1917, the chapel was dedicated with over 100 in attendance.
In 1935, the chapel was sold to the Towaco Women’s Club, and a new church was erected on the corner of Two Bridges and Pine Brook Roads (its current location). This newly constructed building is said to be a Sears pre-fab building. The new church had a kitchen, bathroom, classroom, and chapel that also could be converted into a space for dinners and other social events.
The late fifties were a high-water mark for the Episcopal Church in the United States. A new church was built in Lincoln Park, and a new parish hall and rectory were built in Towaco. These were heady times for churches in the fifties, sixties, and even into the nineties.
Unification As late as 2007, both churches were holding separate services with moderate to good attendance. Successful nursery schools and vibrant Sunday schools continued, along with a positive outlook toward the future.
Around this time, St. Andrew’s was about to lose their minister, Rev. Robert Keating, due to retirement. Transfiguration had hired a part-time minister, Rev. Richard Anderson (retired). Rev. Anderson approached the Vestry of COTT with the idea of assisting St. Andrew’s as they began to search for a new priest. This arrangement continued until Rev. Anderson indicated it was his time to move on.
The parishes began a unified search to find a priest. It was at this time that Rev. David Cabush came to us. Rev. David navigated our churches toward unification, with our churches voting for this arrangement in December of 2013.
After numerous names were considered, our parishes became Good Shepherd. The unification service took place in Lincoln Park in June 2014, with Bishop Mark Beckwith presiding.
Summary compiled by:
Dean M. Witty, Warden
March 2, 2023
St. Andrew’sRev. Wilson conducted services in Lincoln Park on June 10, 1917, at the Lincoln Park Firehouse. The service had eighteen in attendance, and it was decided that the new congregation would be named after St. Andrew the fisherman.
On October 9, 1921, St. Andrew’s held its first services in the new chapel on the corner of Zeliff Place and Main St. The chapel is currently utilized by the thrift shop.
In June of 1931, Rev. John C. Moore was appointed Vicar. At the same time, he was also the Vicar of Church of the Transfiguration in Towaco. Rev. Moore oversaw the construction of Thorpe Hall.
A new contemporary church building was completed in 1958 at the site of the chapel. The chapel was relocated to its current location and attached to Thorpe Hall.
Church of the Transfiguration (COTT)Rev. Henry B. Wilson held the first services in Towaco on August 10, 1913. The service was held at the Methodist Church located on Route 202 in Towaco, with nineteen in attendance. It seems many in attendance in those days were New Yorkers taking advantage of the cooler summers in the country. Their home church in NYC was known as the “little church around the corner” — Church of the Transfiguration.
In August of 1914, services continued at the corner of Two Bridges and Hewlett Roads at the Towaco Athletic Club. This arrangement continued until the building was purchased by the diocese and remodeled as a chapel.
On June 3, 1917, the chapel was dedicated with over 100 in attendance.
In 1935, the chapel was sold to the Towaco Women’s Club, and a new church was erected on the corner of Two Bridges and Pine Brook Roads (its current location). This newly constructed building is said to be a Sears pre-fab building. The new church had a kitchen, bathroom, classroom, and chapel that also could be converted into a space for dinners and other social events.
The late fifties were a high-water mark for the Episcopal Church in the United States. A new church was built in Lincoln Park, and a new parish hall and rectory were built in Towaco. These were heady times for churches in the fifties, sixties, and even into the nineties.
Unification As late as 2007, both churches were holding separate services with moderate to good attendance. Successful nursery schools and vibrant Sunday schools continued, along with a positive outlook toward the future.
Around this time, St. Andrew’s was about to lose their minister, Rev. Robert Keating, due to retirement. Transfiguration had hired a part-time minister, Rev. Richard Anderson (retired). Rev. Anderson approached the Vestry of COTT with the idea of assisting St. Andrew’s as they began to search for a new priest. This arrangement continued until Rev. Anderson indicated it was his time to move on.
The parishes began a unified search to find a priest. It was at this time that Rev. David Cabush came to us. Rev. David navigated our churches toward unification, with our churches voting for this arrangement in December of 2013.
After numerous names were considered, our parishes became Good Shepherd. The unification service took place in Lincoln Park in June 2014, with Bishop Mark Beckwith presiding.
Summary compiled by:
Dean M. Witty, Warden
March 2, 2023
