The Organization and Early Growth of Grace Church
The Sunday School in the Walnut Street railroad station grew rapidly, leading to plans for a permanent building. Alfred J. Crane donated a lot at the corner of Forest and Chestnut Streets. Funds were raised from various sources, and a chapel was built on the lot.
The building was dedicated on January 4, 1891, as The Chestnut Street Chapel. The pastors of First Church and Trinity Church led services in the chapel on Sunday evenings. In October 1891 the Reverend Frederick N. Rutan took on the pastoral work for the chapel, although he was not installed until the following year.
On February 15, 1892, the worshipers at the chapel met under the auspices of the Newark Presbytery and were organized as a Presbyterian Church. The name “Grace Presbyterian Church” was adopted at a subsequent meeting in March, “in the midst of a violent snow storm.” Rev. Rutan was installed as the church’s first pastor on April 25, 1892 and served until April 1894.
(More to come … )
