Over 240 Years on Bloomfield Avenue
First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell has stood at the corner of Bloomfield Avenue, Roseland Avenue, and Westville Avenue in Caldwell, New Jersey, since the Revolutionary era. The congregation's roots reach back into the mid-1700s, when Caldwell was part of an unincorporated area known as Horseneck, which stretched from Fairfield to West Orange. Traveling ministers, including the Revolutionary soldier and pastor Reverend James Caldwell of the Elizabeth Presbyterian Church, visited the area to conduct services.
In 1779, worshippers in Horseneck set out to form their own church, but a shortage of supplies and the Revolutionary War delayed construction. Work finally began on a meeting house in 1782. Called The Old Parsonage, it stood along Bloomfield Avenue where St. Aloysius Church is now. The minister lived on the first floor, and the second floor served as the sanctuary. A church association was founded in 1784. Three years later, Horseneck was renamed Caldwell in honor of Reverend James Caldwell, and the congregation incorporated as "The First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell." Its first ordained pastor was Reverend Stephen Grover.
The congregation outgrew the meeting house, and a new church was constructed on the same site from 1792 to 1794. In those days, a wooden building sat behind a fence to keep cows and horses off the church lawn, with a stable and hitching posts for parishioners' horses and buggies. The first service there was held on April 6, 1796. Among those buried in the Old Burying Ground next to the church, in use from 1788 to 1881, are 20 soldiers from the American Revolution.
In 1834, Reverend Richard Cleveland was installed as the church's pastor. His son, Stephen Grover Cleveland, was born in 1837 and named after the church's first pastor. That son became President Grover Cleveland, and his birthplace next to St. Aloysius Church is preserved in Caldwell as a state historic site.
On the day after Thanksgiving in 1872, a fire destroyed the original wooden church. The congregation voted to rebuild bigger and stronger. The current stone church, completed on the same site in 1876, has been in continuous use ever since. A Parish House was added in 1922 to house Sunday School and recreational activities, and in 1958 it was torn down to make way for a new Christian Education wing, which today contains the nursery school and a gymnasium.
The church is now more than 240 years old. A Heritage and Art Gallery on the main floor displays historic documents and a collection of 60 biblical paintings. The church's motto, repeated across its publications, is: "Shining God's Light by Knowing Christ, Growing in His Love, Going where He Leads."
Sunday Morning at Ten
Sunday worship at First Pres centers on a Traditional Service held at 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary. The service follows a traditional Presbyterian style and is anchored by the Chancel Choir, whose ensembles offer music ranging from classical choral works to gospel and jazz. The Lord's Supper, or Communion, is celebrated on the first Sunday of every month and at special services throughout the year.
The congregation describes itself as an open and affirming church, stating, "All are welcome. We believe all are children of God and we can't wait to welcome you."
A livestream of the Sunday service is broadcast on YouTube, allowing worshippers to join from wherever they are. The Audio Visual Team provides a high quality online version of the service each week. Bulletins and the church's newsletter, "First Press," are published each week so members and visitors can follow along with the order of worship and stay informed about church life.
Children are part of the Sunday morning rhythm. Nursery care is provided in the cradle room for infants and children up to four years old during the 10 a.m. Traditional Service and the 5 p.m. Contemporary Service. Children in kindergarten through sixth grade begin worship with their families in the Sanctuary and are dismissed to Sunday School after the Time with the Children. Sunday School runs from September through June.
At 10:30 a.m. on Sundays, the community gathers for Coffee Hour in Room 120. During the warmer months, the gathering moves outside as Lemonade on the Lawn. Worshippers linger over refreshments and conversation, and visitors are invited to join.
A Music Program from Broadway to Handbells
Music is woven into nearly every aspect of life at First Pres. The Music Ministry is directed by Valerie Shondel, an organist, pianist, and conductor who has performed at Carnegie Hall and as organ soloist at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. She is a member of the New York City and Northern New Jersey Chapters of the American Guild of Organists and holds degrees in Piano Performance and Musicology from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, with doctoral studies at New York University.
The Chancel Choir sings each week at the 10 a.m. Traditional Service from September through June and at Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Maundy Thursday, and Easter. Membership is a mix of volunteers and professional section leaders, and the repertoire spans classical, gospel, and jazz. The choir also participates in the Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, the Lighting of the Caldwell Community Christmas Tree, and performances at local senior living residences. Rehearsals are held on Thursday nights from 7:45 to 9:15 p.m.
GENESIS is a professional a cappella jazz ensemble of five or six Broadway singers, part of the church's Caldwell Broadway Arts initiative. They join Traditional worship four times a year and contribute during the Lenten season and at Christmas.
Joyful Noise is the children's choir for singers ages 6 to 11, directed by Mackenzie Conaway. The ensemble rehearses on Sundays after worship and welcomes all who like to sing.
The FPC Chancel Handbell Choir rings for worship each month from September through June, with special appearances on Palm Sunday, Easter, and Christmas Eve. The ensemble of about twelve regular ringers and a roster of substitutes performs on five octaves of bells and rehearses on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Each spring the choir joins other bell choirs at the Hudson Valley Handbell Festival and shares its music at the Thanksgiving Ecumenical Service and at local senior residences. Beginners and experienced ringers are welcome.
Caldwell Broadway Arts, an initiative of the Music Ministry, presents a Summer Musical Theater Intensive for ages 10 to 17, workshops for ages 8 to 17, and the annual Christmas Musical for ages 4 to 13. CBA also hosts cabaret nights and Broadway concerts throughout the year, partnering with Montclair State University's Cali School of Music and with professional musicians from the New York area. Concerts at FPC range from classical to jazz, from solo recitals to full ensembles.
The Contemporary Music Ministry leads worship at the 5 p.m. Sunday service. Drawing on popular Christian music, guitars, vocals, keyboard, and percussion move the congregation in song. The Contemporary Worship Leader is Scott Westenberger.
Children, Youth, and the Avenue
The Avenue is the church's after school kids club, meeting every Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. during the school year for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Each afternoon begins with a choice of gym activities, art projects, or homework help in the Homework Hub, and ends with a time of Bible-based story and conversation. At 5:45 p.m., families are invited to join the children for a shared meal at the Community Table, followed by other Tuesday night programming open to everyone.
Sunday School meets during the 10 a.m. Traditional Service for children in kindergarten through sixth grade, from September through June. Children begin in worship with their families and are dismissed after the Time with the Children.
Vacation Bible School is held in August for children ages 4 through sixth grade, with a week of Bible study, music, crafts, and activities. Acolytes in grades 3 through 5 participate in worship by bringing the light of Christ into the sanctuary.
Confirmation is offered every other school year for seventh and eighth graders. The curriculum covers key Christian teachings, the history of the universal church and the local congregation, the life and work of Jesus, and what it means to be a disciple. Students explore baptism, the Lord's Supper, church polity, stewardship, spiritual practices, worship, and mission.
Middle and high school youth meet on the third Sunday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m. for a meal and fellowship, with additional activities scheduled throughout the month. The purpose of the Youth Ministry is described as "Reach Over, Reach Up, Reach Out": reaching over to students with a safe and caring environment, reaching up through learning about God and growing in relationship with Jesus Christ, and reaching out into service to others.
The Avenue and the youth programs are led by Amanda Lecuona, Director of Youth Ministry and Christian Education. Amanda has been a member of the FPC congregation since her confirmation in 2014 and graduated from Loyola University Maryland in 2022 with a degree in Education.
The Board of Deacons in Service
The Board of Deacons oversees a wide range of caring ministries at First Pres. The office of Deacon is one of sympathy, witness, and service, and the Board collects the gifts of the congregation and distributes them to those in need.
The Soup Kitchen ministry prepares meals each week for the soup kitchen at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Orange, NJ. First Pres provides and serves food every Thursday and on the last Saturday of each month, with three rotating crews from the church going down to serve food prepared by members. Recipes and sign up forms are posted online, and meal drop off takes place in the church's Westville Avenue parking lot on Wednesdays from 4 to 5 p.m. and on Saturday mornings from 8 to 8:30 a.m.
Sandwich Night takes place once a month in Fellowship Hall, hosted by a different community organization each month. Volunteers make and package 400 to 450 bagged lunches that are delivered to St. John's Soup Kitchen in Newark. Each Sandwich Night costs between $1,000 and $1,100, with the church covering what is not donated by participants.
The Transportation Ministry coordinates rides to and from church for members who are unable to drive themselves.
A long-standing Card Writing Ministry assigns each volunteer one month of the year, paired with a partner, to send greeting cards to homebound members.
Blood Drives are hosted twice a year, with donors in good health who weigh at least 110 pounds and are at least 16 years old eligible to give.
Coat and Sweater Drives run twice a year to benefit St. John's Soup Kitchen in Newark. A drop off bin is accessible 24/7 outside by the church's circular driveway during each drive.
The Annual Cookie Walk is held on the second Saturday in December from 9 a.m. to noon. Cookies and baked goods are sold, with hospitality and holiday music throughout the morning. Proceeds benefit community members in emergency situations throughout the year.
The Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Drive takes place on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Frozen turkeys and hams, canned goods, and non-perishables are collected for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, which uses the donations to help families who would otherwise have no holiday meal.
Bingo Nights are held several times throughout the year as a fellowship event. Participants are asked to bring food donations in exchange for their bingo cards, with the donations going to the Caldwell Food Pantry.
The Annual Board of Deacons Golf Outing is held each fall at Knoll Country Club East Course in Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey, with a four person best ball format that welcomes golfers of all skill levels. Funds raised support youth and outreach missions at FPC, including mission trips, music ministries, youth ministries, the Caldwell Food Pantry, Sandwich Night, Oasis, Johnsonburg Camp and Retreat Center, the AV Ministry, and the Pastor's Discretionary Fund.
Missions Across New Jersey and the World
First Pres supports mission partners locally, throughout the United States, and around the world, providing annual funding and participating in mission trips and workcamps.
The 7th Street Bistro in Newark serves hot lunches every week of the year to the homeless and those in need, and maintains a Clothes Closet and personal hygiene supplies for guests. Each January, the church's Social Justice Group sponsors a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service food drive to benefit 7th Street Bistro.
The African Dream Academy in Monrovia, Liberia, is a tuition-free independent school serving over 1,500 students from Nursery to 12th grade. The church participates in an annual holiday drive, filling red bags with school supplies, toiletries, and toys for each child, often the only gifts these students receive all year.
The Caldwell Food Pantry, housed at 14 Park Avenue in Caldwell, operates on the simple motto "Neighbors helping Neighbors." Before the pandemic, about 80 families relied on the pantry each week; since then, distributions have increased by 75 percent. The pantry also provides Thanksgiving dinners, holiday gifts, diapers, back to school supplies, and emergency assistance.
The Community FoodBank of New Jersey fills the emptiness caused by hunger with "Food, Help and Hope," providing grants to local food pantries for equipment and transportation.
Oasis, A Haven for Women and Children, began in 1997 as a soup kitchen in Paterson, NJ. Today it offers basic needs support, social services, and educational and enrichment programming for women and children.
St. John's Soup Kitchen in Newark has been feeding the hungry for more than 40 years, welcoming struggling families, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and the homeless.
UrbanPromise in Camden, NJ, runs Christian elementary and high schools, summer camps, after-school programs, the StreetLeader program for teens, and UrbanTrekkers and BoatWorks programs. About 700 Camden children and teens participate each year, and 89 percent of high school graduates transition to college or vocational training.
The Neighbor Brigade West Essex chapter connects neighbors facing a temporary crisis, such as serious illness, the loss of a loved one, or hospitalization, with volunteers who can prepare a meal, walk a dog, provide transportation, rake leaves, or simply visit.
The Facing Racism Task Force, with the same three guiding principles as the Social Justice Group, educates the congregation about how racism operates in society, works toward a more just and equitable community, and is guided by the ministry of Jesus Christ.
Faith Formation for Adults
The Adult Education ministry at First Pres offers resources and community experiences for people at any point in their faith journey. The Adult Education Committee organizes Bible studies throughout the year that are announced by email, from the pulpit, and on the church calendar.
Daily devotionals are available through First15, which publishes a new devotional each day consisting of Scripture, reflection, prayer, musical worship, and a call to action. The devotionals take about ten minutes and can also be downloaded as a podcast.
Faith Formation resources are available through Theoacademy, including video series on "Foundations of Presbyterian Discipleship," the practice of "Othering" and the Christian's call to love, and preparation for ordered ministry as an Elder or Deacon.
Becoming a member begins with an Inquirer's Class, an informal session with the pastor and members of the congregation that covers what it means to be Christian, Presbyterian, and a part of First Pres. New members are received twice a year upon completion of the class.
Coffee Hour, Pickleball, and the Memorial Day Parade
Fellowship at First Pres runs from the church lawn to the gymnasium. The Church Life Committee hosts programs throughout the year that bring members together. Each year the congregation gathers for the Caldwell Memorial Day Parade and provides hot dogs and refreshments for the local community. In September, the Children and Youth Committee celebrates the kickoff of Sunday School with snacks, ice cream, games, and activities on the church lawn.
Dads With a Mission is a men's group that meets for breakfast and discussion. Although the name suggests dads only, all men are invited. The group helps with event set ups and projects around the church and has assisted local flood victims with demolition and rebuilding.
Recreation is offered four nights a week. Volleyball is played in Fellowship Hall on Mondays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Pickleball is offered on Tuesday evenings (currently full) and Thursday evenings, with beginners from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and mixed level play from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Vinyasa Yoga, led by Sue Tannler, meets on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. in Room 120. Participants bring a mat, water bottle, and optional blocks or a strap.
The Nursery School and the Cemetery Next Door
The FPC Nursery School was founded in 1963 and operates out of the Christian Education wing of the church building. The program provides preschool education in a safe and nurturing environment that encourages exploration and creativity, with the goal of finding the talent and interests inside each child. Kathleen Carlson directs the school; she previously taught the Kindergarten Enrichment Program and holds a master's from New York University in Early Childhood and Elementary Education.
Prospect Hill Cemetery, half a mile west of the church on Westville Avenue between Thomas Street and Prospect Street, is a traditional nonprofit cemetery association run by First Pres. The cemetery offers full size burial plots, cremation plots, and cremorial plots, and employs no sales staff. The cemetery office is located in the church, one floor below the main office on the Nursery School Level.
Planning a Visit
The church sits at the intersection of Bloomfield Avenue and Roseland Avenue, in the heart of Caldwell, with the entrance and parking accessible from Westville Avenue. Several handicapped parking spots are available in the church's circular driveway. Additional parking is available at the Westville Avenue municipal lot just west of the church, the Westville Avenue private lot behind Valley National Bank when the bank is closed, the Caldwell municipal lot on Smull Avenue, the municipal lot next to the fire house on Roseland Avenue, and the municipal lot behind Food Town with entrances on Brookside Avenue and Gould Place. On-street parking is available along Westville Avenue and Bloomfield Avenue.
Church office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Summer hours run Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The church office can be reached by phone at (973) 228-0310 or by email at fpc@firstprescaldwell.org.
Giving is available online, and the church's mission statement reads, "We respond to the extravagant generosity of God by offering our first fruits to the ministry of Christ through this congregation." A livestream of the 10 a.m. Sunday service is broadcast on YouTube, and donations can be made through online giving.
The 10 a.m. Sunday service in the Sanctuary is the central gathering of the week, with Coffee Hour to follow. The church has been a fixture of life on Bloomfield Avenue for more than two and a half centuries, and the door remains open to anyone who walks through it.