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SandBrook
"Mooreite" German Baptist Church
The Sand Brook German Baptist Church on SandBrook-Headquarters
Road, just off of County Route 523, was formed in 1848 after seventeen
supporters of John P. Moore broke away from the Amwell German Baptist Church of
the Brethren, known in early years as the "Dunkard Church."
The newly split congregation originally
formed in 1848-1849, were locally called the "Mooreites," but were
officially known as the United Christian Church or "United
Christians." The minister of the Amwell congregation was Israel Poulsen,
so the Amwell congregation was locally designated the "Israelites."
John P. Moore was one of nine children. He
was reared on a farm and apprenticed by his parents, Gideon and Catharine Yorks
Moore, to the blacksmith trade. Bro. Moore was married to Anna Pierson of
Harbourton, New Jersey and they lived in Sand Brook where he ran the store and
post office. He ministered to the Sand Brook German Baptist Church until his
death on October 26, 1889.
The meeting house was built in 1850 on a lot
conveyed by Hiram and Amanda Moore to Asa Moore on October 3, 1849. The church
was a simple building with stuccoed-stone, without steeple, stained glass or
other decoration. There are two separate doors for men and women to enter by,
simple wooden pews, and a simple altar behind which there were three chairs, one
for the elder and one each for each deacon. The building was heated by a coal
stove, and there were coal oil lamps hung from the ceiling.
The Sand Brook church during its 48 years as
a congregation was served by three ministers: John P. Moore (1811-1889); Henry
F. Trout (1829-1872); and Charles W. Moore (1838-1903). By 1880 the church had
a thriving congregation of 77 members with a separate Sunday School.
Charles W. Moore began to preach also at the
Bethel Church and at a regular fall council in 1896 it was resolved that the
Bethel Church and the Sand Brook Church would unite and consolidate, and be
known as the Union Church of New Jersey.
On March 5, 1898, after many years of
disagreements between the Amwell church and the Sand Brook church, it was decided
that the Amwell and Sand Brook congregations would again walk together.
Services were then held in both churches, with the Sunday morning service at
the Amwell church and the Sunday evening service at Sand Brook.
Thanks to the work of Rev. Henry T. Horne
(nephew to Elder Charles W. Moore) on May 25, 1912 at a special joint council
meeting, the Amwell and Sand Brook congregations united forming one
congregation, and resumed their original name, the Amwell Church of the
Brethren. Later the Sand Brook Church was closed. Over the years the Sand Brook
Historical Association has been involved in the use and restoration of the
Church. It is believed that the church was first restored in the the 1960's by
the Sandbrook Historical Association, which used the church for many years as a
local community center for weddings, funerals and community get togethers,
Local
Area German Baptist / Church of the Brethren Dates
Amwell
Church of the Brethren (1733 - present)
Sand
Brook United Christian Church (1849 - 1896)
Bethel
Church (1884 - 1896)
Union
Church of New Jersey (1896 - 1912)
Old photo: "Sandbrook Society" 1940's
or 1950's ?