History of Dennisville UMC
“Many years of Cape May County history are reflected in the early American church and the parsonage of Dennisville. Founded in 1869, the Dennisville church congregation included shipbuilders who settled in the area because of the abundance of cedar trees in Dennis Creek. A ship yard was set up just south of where (the WaWa is now), where new boats were launched into the Delaware Bay from Dennis Creek.
In the 1700’s, even before the area became inhabited by the shipbuilders, Methodist missionaries sent from England called circuit riders, preached the Word of God. The circuit riders would travel by horseback through tiny towns of South Jersey, where faithful groups began to worship. Because transportation of the era was poor, each community began building churches only a few miles away from each other”. [1]
Methodism began in this community in a small chapel that had been moved from the Landing (Dennis Creek?) located opposite the Ludlam School House. This was the first mission where the preachers Woolford and Collins, who had served the mother church in South Dennis.[2] To shorten the distance to the village, James Diverty and other members of the village decided to purchase land and build a church more convenient to the more densely populated area of the town. The lot was purchased from Nathaniel Holmes for $10.00.[3]
On November 29, 1869, The Corporation deed was recorded. The original Trustees were Maurice Beesley, F.B. Bushnell, Jesse Diverty, Nathaniel Holmes, Benjamin F. Lee, Jacob Souder, and Mackey Williams. The cornerstone was laid on November 12, 1870.
Funds were raised by the Mite Society to build Dennisville Methodist Episcopal Church. The builders selected were brothers John and Jonathan James and Charles Crandol, all master builders. The approximate cost was $5,200.00. [4]
The church was completed in 1872 with the dedication sermon being preached by Rev. Charles Hill on September 15, 1872. The first pastor was Rev. Jesse Diverty, who served from 1869-1870.
Because Dennisville was not a wealthy community, the debt was not easy for the members to carry, but within seven years, through the assistance of Rev. Ezra Lake, (who was pastor from 1872-1875), and the Church extension, the debt was paid off in 1879.
With the completion of the church, Dennisville M.E. church steeple became the highest point in Cape May County. Historians have reported that nervous seafarers would spot the steeple from the bay and say a prayer of thanks[5], as the steeple was often used as a reference point from a great distance to the entrance of Dennis Creek.
The remarkable tinwork on the ceiling and the walls was arranged and completed for the cost of $100.00[6] in 1911. Included in that cost was a new lightening rod.[7]
1963 The Social Hall was purchased. (it had at one time been a general store and Post Office) .
[1] Information found in an unattributed brochure which cited an article it had used for some of the information: “The Church Where Shipbuilders Resided”. Gazette of Middle & Dennis Townships. Dec. 16, 1994 .
[2] Source unknow. From existing tour bulletin from the church.
[3] Alice Belanger McGuigan. Historic Dennisville – A Walking Tour. Atlantic Printing. 2001. 43-44.
[4] McGuigan. 43-44
[5] same as foot note #1
[6] another reference states: in 1911, $1000. Was spent during Rev. H.Bradway’s work on this charge when building received new walls and outside painting”
[7] McGuigan. 44.
“Many years of Cape May County history are reflected in the early American church and the parsonage of Dennisville. Founded in 1869, the Dennisville church congregation included shipbuilders who settled in the area because of the abundance of cedar trees in Dennis Creek. A ship yard was set up just south of where (the WaWa is now), where new boats were launched into the Delaware Bay from Dennis Creek.
In the 1700’s, even before the area became inhabited by the shipbuilders, Methodist missionaries sent from England called circuit riders, preached the Word of God. The circuit riders would travel by horseback through tiny towns of South Jersey, where faithful groups began to worship. Because transportation of the era was poor, each community began building churches only a few miles away from each other”. [1]
Methodism began in this community in a small chapel that had been moved from the Landing (Dennis Creek?) located opposite the Ludlam School House. This was the first mission where the preachers Woolford and Collins, who had served the mother church in South Dennis.[2] To shorten the distance to the village, James Diverty and other members of the village decided to purchase land and build a church more convenient to the more densely populated area of the town. The lot was purchased from Nathaniel Holmes for $10.00.[3]
On November 29, 1869, The Corporation deed was recorded. The original Trustees were Maurice Beesley, F.B. Bushnell, Jesse Diverty, Nathaniel Holmes, Benjamin F. Lee, Jacob Souder, and Mackey Williams. The cornerstone was laid on November 12, 1870.
Funds were raised by the Mite Society to build Dennisville Methodist Episcopal Church. The builders selected were brothers John and Jonathan James and Charles Crandol, all master builders. The approximate cost was $5,200.00. [4]
The church was completed in 1872 with the dedication sermon being preached by Rev. Charles Hill on September 15, 1872. The first pastor was Rev. Jesse Diverty, who served from 1869-1870.
Because Dennisville was not a wealthy community, the debt was not easy for the members to carry, but within seven years, through the assistance of Rev. Ezra Lake, (who was pastor from 1872-1875), and the Church extension, the debt was paid off in 1879.
With the completion of the church, Dennisville M.E. church steeple became the highest point in Cape May County. Historians have reported that nervous seafarers would spot the steeple from the bay and say a prayer of thanks[5], as the steeple was often used as a reference point from a great distance to the entrance of Dennis Creek.
The remarkable tinwork on the ceiling and the walls was arranged and completed for the cost of $100.00[6] in 1911. Included in that cost was a new lightening rod.[7]
1963 The Social Hall was purchased. (it had at one time been a general store and Post Office) .
[1] Information found in an unattributed brochure which cited an article it had used for some of the information: “The Church Where Shipbuilders Resided”. Gazette of Middle & Dennis Townships. Dec. 16, 1994 .
[2] Source unknow. From existing tour bulletin from the church.
[3] Alice Belanger McGuigan. Historic Dennisville – A Walking Tour. Atlantic Printing. 2001. 43-44.
[4] McGuigan. 43-44
[5] same as foot note #1
[6] another reference states: in 1911, $1000. Was spent during Rev. H.Bradway’s work on this charge when building received new walls and outside painting”
[7] McGuigan. 44.
History of South Dennis Trinity UMC
Dennisville and South Dennis Trinity* Pastors from 1869-2016
*The list from 1869 - 1963 was provided by the Dennis Township Museum and History Center. The list was listed as Dennisville UMC. Currently we are confident the pastors were shared between each church since 1935, with the understanding that it continued from 1869. We are in the process of verifying that,(judging by the page from the membership book shown below, in 1872 Dennisville's pastor was Ezra Lake, while the South Dennis Church may have had Rev. Alexander McLea(n or u), as pastor).
1869-1870 Jesse Diverty
1871-1872 George Woolford
1872-1875 Ezra B. Lake
1876-1876 James Tucker
1876-1876 Charles Mead
1876-1877 D. Stewart
1877-1878 J.A. Lilly
1878-1879 J. Clark
1880-1881 George L. Newton
1882-1883 not known
1884-1885 W.A. Ludlow
1885-1886 L.A. Parsells
1886-1887 Charles Elder
1887-1888 A.L. Izzard
1889-1891 James A. Lumley
1891-1893 Edward Mount
1893-1895 George T. Harris
1895-1898 William Disbrow
1898-1899 H.M. Smith
1899-1901 E.J. Kulp
1901-1902 Thomas H. Hicks
1902-1903 Peter M. Bilderback
1903-1905 Milton R. Eastlack
1905-1908 Robert M. Waples
1908-1910 N.V. Cossaboon
1910-1913 Henry L. Bradway
1913-1916 Stanley N. Clarke
1916-1919 John H. Whitaker
1919-1919 John R. Greer
1919-1923 Walter L. Yerkes
1923-1924 Carl W. Reamer
1924-1925 Walter Nicklass
1926-1927 E.O.W. Estlow
1927-1929 John Bradway
1929-1932 Charles DuBois*
1932-1934 Ira J. B. Hill
1934-1936 Thomas J. Morgan
1939-1939 Warren Layton+
1940-1941 Gordon Lowden
1942-1943 M.E. Walker
1947-1949 H.J. Bugg
1950-1952 E.T. Weeks
1952-1953 Edward Albright
1953-1954 L. Wayne Garrison Jr.
1955-1958 Harry A. Sees
1958-1963 Charles H. DuBois*
1963-1971 Benjamin S. Sooy++
1971-1974 Clarence Stubbs
1974-1978 Glenn Spencer
1978-1988 Robert Hughes
1988-1996 Robert Brown
1996-2001 Peter Broomall
2001-2006 Joseph Palumbo
2006-2010 James Sainsbury
2010-2010 Donald McMahon
2010-2011 John Robbins
2011-2014 Peter Jamison
2014-2015 John Robbins
2015- Fredrick R. Marz
Dennisville ME (to 1939) Methodist (1939- 1968)+ United Methodist (1968)++