January 9, 1983--100th Anniversary of Miller Memorial Church

On this Day in South Brunswick History...
January 9, 1983--100th Anniversary of Miller Memorial Church
by Ed Belding South Brunswick Historical Society

In 1877, the Methodist Episcopal congregation in the South Brunswick area built a one-room church on "Old New Road" in Monmouth Junction. The building was sold to Reverend John Miller for $482 in 1884. This controversial pastor, who had been suspended by the New Brunswick Presbytery for heresy in books (such as--"Questions Awaked by the Bible" and "Fetish in Theology") he had published, established his own churches in South Brunswick, Plainsboro, Princeton, and New Brunswick. All of his churches became associated with the Cumberland Presbyterian movement. Thus, at that time, the original "Miller" church in Monmouth Junction was referred to as an independent Presbyterian church. In 1895, after Miller had passed away on a Palm Sunday, his daughters deeded the old church to the Cumberland Presbyterian organization. Visiting Cumberland ministers and Princeton Seminary students conducted services there until Rev. George Ashforth Burslem took the helm in 1913. By that time, the church came to be known as the First Presbyterian Church of Monmouth Junction, because the Cumberland Presbyterians had united with the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. in 1907. In 1922, Pastor Raymond A. Eckels succeeded Burslem and served until 1942. During his tenure, the old church was sold at auction and the congregation moved into the former Saint Paul's Episcopal Church on the corner of Ridge Road and Pierson Street in Monmouth Junction. This location is reputed to be the exact geographic center of Monmouth Junction. Since 1936, the old church had been called the Miller Memorial Church. At the first service, when the new church was dedicated on October 9, 1938, the name remained the Miller Memorial Presbyterian Church. The 100th anniversary of Miller's church was celebrated on January 8, 1983, during the tenure of Rev. John H. Maltby, who assumed his position in 1962. The Centennial was celebrated at a Sunday service with guest speaker, Rev. Russell W. Annich, Pastor Emiritus of Trenton's Bethany Presbyterian Church. Rev. Maltby conducted the service. A display of the church's history was featured after the service. Eldest church member, Mrs. Ethel Emens (92) was available to reminisce about the "old days" when men and women sat in opposite pews, when she was a child.