Succasunna United    Methodist Church    

Our History

Our beginnings date back to 1783, when we were a part  of the Flanders Circuit which included: Flanders, Drakestown, Tottens (Ironia), Walnut Grove (Mt. Freedom), and Succasunna. During the 1800’s the village of Suckasunny was prospering. The Morris Canal was both an engineering feat and a main artery of commerce. A dirt road called the Morris Turnpike linked far off Elizabeth to colonial Morristown, Newton and Milford, P.A. Suckasunny Plains provided a convenient stopping–off place.

In the midst of this economic growth, in the year 1849, the Rev. T.T. Campbell organized a Methodist class meeting in Succasunna. Then, on the third of July 1850, the male members of the church met at the house of Bishop Edmund Janes where a Board of Trustees was elected and the building of the church authorized.

Construction of the existing sanctuary and bell tower was begun in 1850 and was dedicated on February 1852. The Rev. William Day was appointed the first pastor.  In 1891 an L shaped addition was added to the original building. This was followed in 1929 with alterations that included a recreation hall. In 1950 a basement was dug under the sanctuary, and in 1959 the last expansion added church school facilities,  a kitchen and fellowship hall. We celebrated our 150th Anniversary in the year 2000.

 From The History of Roxbury Township, Volume 1

Organized in the days of the Morris Canal and Morris Turnpike (Elizabeth to Milford, PA).  Known as ‘Suckasunny’ – a Leni-Lenape word for ‘black rock’.  Area became important during the revolution for iron ore.

1840's - Church began as an offshoot of the Ironia Church.

  • Rev. Absalom Steelman, a local preacher, records that Methodists meeting there came from as far away as Succasunna 

  • Some disagreement over the subject of temperance and status of infants after death

  • Preacher supposed preached a sermon called “Infants in Hell a Span Long” and a bunch of people walked out

1849 – Preacher from Flanders, TT Campbell, organized a class meeting and preached in the old academy (just down the street from the church) and in homes

July 3, 1850 – “the male members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in this place, convened at the house of Bishop Edmund S. Janes, now occupied by Daniel L. Dickerson, according to advertisement as the law directs, for the purpose of electing a Board of Trustees to hold the property of the ME Church on Succasunna Plains, styled Janes Chapel, and at the hour appointed met and proceeded to business as follows:

Thomas Sovereign was elected chairman at the meeting.  William M. Force was elected Secretary of the meeting.  We then proceeded to nominate and elect as trustees of the ME Church at Succasunna, in the township of Roxbury, in the county of Morris, State of New Jersey.  Elected were William M. Force, A.W. Snyder, Harman R. Wear, Richard Green, and C.H. Lipincott.”

Plans for sanctuary issued August 1850.  Built on 1.5 acres donated by the wife of the Presiding Elder (DS) Rev. CA Lippincott (buried in our cemetery – just outside the sanctuary window), Elizabeth (Corwin) Lippincott – apparently her family had a lot of money.  Named “Janes Chapel” – Bishop Edmund Janes had given $500.  Dedicated February 17, 1852.  First pastor appointed to the Succasunna and Walnut Grove circuit, William Day, at 1852 annual conference.  Part of the Rahway District at the time.

End of first year, reported 69 members (all white), 142 on probation, 1 local preacher (Absalom Steelman?), 140 students in Sunday School, 24 officers and leaders in Sunday School, 250 volume library.  No salary for the pastor.  He was single, so probably boarded with members.

First reported salary was 1855, $267 for Rev. John Atkinson.  Ten years after church was founded, had 189 members.  In this time, linked with Port Morris or Walnut Grove.

1872, three acres added to the cemetery.  1887, a Sunday School room was built.  Church renovated and new chapel built in 1891, included steam heat.  Basement completed 1950.  Renovated again in 1920 (current pews likely from that time – prior picture shows straight pews).  Education wing added in 1959, mortgage paid off by 1971.  1965, membership up to 600, staff includes seminarian to do youth work and a part-time Director of Christian Education.  Ten years later, membership had dropped to 450.

Artifacts of interest:

  • communion glasses

  • original pulpit

  • original communion ware

  • pictures of original church, etc.