Our History
Our first congregation
Grenloch First Presbyterian Church began in 1896 as a Sunday School in the “Upper Room” of the offices of the Bateman Manufacturing Company (later called “Iron Age Implement Industries”) located at the foot of the hill near Grenloch Lake. Through the devotion and generosity of Mr. Frank Bateman, funds were raised to build a church. The dedication service for the present building was held in 1908. In May 1909, the church became the First Presbyterian Church of Grenloch. In over 100 years since, a church bell and pipe organ have been added, along with the building of a Manse and Sunday School building.
 Placing the Corner Stones |  Grenloch in Early Years |  A tree full of socks by Peter Sulyok |
|---|---|---|
 Sign First Presbyterian of Grenloch |  First Congregation |  First Sunday School Class Donated by Bateman Family |
 Church Dedication Program Back Cover |  Church Dedication Program |  Resolution Document |
A little history about our church
A little history about the church from an article in the Constitution, December 16, 1908: “New Church Dedicated: Grenloch Presbyterians Opened Their New Edifice to Public Worship on Sunday in Presence of Large Assemblage.
Cost Eleven Thousand Dollars: The dedication of the church of the Grenloch Presbyterian Sunday School on Saturday and Sunday was largely attended. The church is surely an edifice to be proud of and is a credit to efficient board of trustees, who were also the building committee. It is built of granite and frame, and has two entrances with an arched driveway over one of them. The floors are of hard wood finish and the pews, which are of opera style, harmonize with the finish of the interior. The walls have been painted a light green with a most attractive hand-painted oak-leaf pattern border. The ceiling of the chapel and Sunday School rooms are wainscoted, while the halls and reading rooms have metal ceilings. The pulpit is located in an alcove on the west side of the church and the choir alongside. The piano was donated by Mr. Chas. W. Foster, one of the trustees. The building is heated by hot air and lighted by electricity. A reading room has been placed in the basement of the church for the use the men. A beautiful large stained glass memorial window, representing “The Great Sower”, and has been placed, in memory of Stephen and Maria Bateman.
“The financial report as made by Mr. Frank Bateman, president of the Board of Trustees follows:
Chapel Ground $ 333.00
Masonry 3283.27
Mill Work 983.93
Lumber 1396.18
Roofing 717.91
Metal Ceiling 141.49
Carpentry & Labor 1792.86
Electric wiring, etc. 311.36
Heating System 275.70
Miscellaneous, labor, painting 503.07
Glass, hardware and paint 426.61
Furnishings, seating, etc. 515.11
Incidental expenses 160.80
Total cost of church $11,000.58
Bell, donation of Mrs. Frank Bateman
The dedicatory services were opened in prayer by the Rev. Bank. S. Everitt, D.D. The dedicatory sermon was delivered by Rev. F. R. Brace, D.D., from the text, “I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord.” Dedicatory prayer, Rev. C.B. Eby, pastor of Blackwood Presbyterian Church. Address, Rev. Samuel D. Price, pastor of Calvary Presbyterian Church, Camden, and recording secretary New Jersey Sunday School Association. On Saturday evening Rev. D. B. Eby gave an address, and Mr. Philip E. Howard, publisher of the Sunday School Times, made an address om “Putting your life into it.” On Sunday afternoon Mr. George W. Hughes, ex-president Gloucester County Sunday School Association gave an address on “Sunday School Work.” The Rev. R. Hilliard Gage, pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Wenonah, also delivered an address. Mr. Fred H. Bateman, superintendent of the Sunday School, had charge of the entire service. The trustees are Frank Bateman, Chas. W. Foster, secretary, Fred H. Bateman, treasurer.