How about a tale of two churches becoming one? That’s essentially the story of Central Church of Bloomfield and East Orange.
This isn’t just about bricks and mortar. It’s about communities coming together. It’s about faith evolving.
Let’s rewind a bit. The Church of the Epiphany and Christ Church weren’t always a single entity. They were neighbors. These churches stood a mere seven-tenths of a mile apart. Each had its own rich history. Each had its own accomplishments spanning over a century.
Christ Church in East Orange came first. It was founded in 1868. Early services took place in a humble schoolroom. The congregation grew quickly. By 1870, they built their own church. It accommodated 233 people. Tragedy struck in 1888. A fire destroyed the building just before Christmas Eve. Undeterred, the members built an even larger stone church. This one could hold over 700 worshipers. That building stands to this day.
Christ Church was known for its excellent music. It also had an appreciation for the arts. For years, they had a choir of men and boys. The choir was even part of the Royal School of Church Music. The church boasted one of the finest Austin organs around. Stained-glass windows depicted biblical scenes. They also showed leaders in church history.
Christ Church was deeply involved in its community. Members offered educational services. They ran soup kitchens for the hungry. They also provided a clothing bank for those in need. In 2000, the Episcopal Church recognized these efforts. It declared Christ Church a Jubilee Ministry Center.
Now let’s turn to the Church of the Epiphany. It stood on Main Street in Orange. This church has its roots on Pierson Street. It was founded by African Americans. This happened because other local Episcopal congregations refused to welcome them. Epiphany had a proud history of community involvement. It sponsored programs to support the growing black community. Fr. George Plaskett led the church. He served first as a seminarian. Then he became rector for 50 years. Epiphany started as a Sunday school for “colored children” in 1905.
The congregation grew under Fr. Plaskett’s leadership. In 1909, they bought land. They broke ground for a new church building in 1910. The first service was held in 2011.
Epiphany became financially independent in 1916. However, it maintained ties with Grace Church. This lasted until 1930. Then it became a parish.
The Pierson Street church was beautiful. It had a Botticino marble altar. The Gorham Company of New York designed it. The floor around the altar was also marble. It had inlaid colored designs. The building also featured memorials to church members.
In 1956, the Egbert Chapel-Plaskett House was built. It provided space for youth activities. The Church of the Epiphany greatly influenced the community. It was especially influential with young people. Like Christ Church, Epiphany had an active choir. It also offered feeding and clothing programs.
In 1986, the Bishop of Newark asked Epiphany to move. It moved across Main Street. It took over the abandoned Grace Church building. This was a difficult move for many members. Now, Christ Church and Epiphany were just blocks apart. Yet, they were in different towns. They offered similar outreach programs.
Over time, both churches saw declining membership. The large buildings strained their finances. Leaders began discussing shared ministry. In 2015, Christ Church faced extreme financial burdens. The vestries of both churches agreed to merge. They would come “under one roof” at Epiphany’s location.
In the fall of 2016, they consolidated. A single new parish was formed. It became known as Church of the Epiphany and Christ Church. The new parish continues to serve its neighbors. It provides food and clothing. It has growing children and youth programs. It also offers varied backgrounds.
Central Church of Bloomfield and East Orange believes it is responding to God’s call. It is becoming something new.