CHRIST CHURCH, POMPTON (EPISCOPAL)

INCORPORATED 1798

"One Sunday afternoon, sometime in the year 1750, a weary rider dismounted from his horse on the banks of a stream near what is known to all Pomptonians as the 'steel works'. The picture he presented was a contrast. His clothes were dark and somber, yet a smile wreathed his lips. Protruding from the saddle boot, the butt of a gun could be seen, though from his saddle bag he drew a Prayer Book and Bible. He was a priest of the English Church sent from far distant Newark, at the request of the British Iron Company, that men in their employ might receive the comfort and inspiration of the ancient liturgy of the church they loved. He set his Altar in a vacant space of one of the warehouses which lined the banks of the stream, and the bell which usually called the men together to collect their wages was tolled to announce the opening services. Thus was born the parish of Christ Church, Pompton." (From an old newspaper and historical documents at the Cathedral House in Newark.)

The aforementioned "English Foundry" was located "at or near the confluence of the rivers Ramapo, Wynockie and Pequonnoc". Today the location is not far from where the Hamburg Turnpike passes the Pompton Lakes Dam.

Although Christ Church Parish was formally incorporated in 1798 by an act of the legislature of New Jersey, there had been services held at Pompton on and off for nearly 50 years.

The original parish building was destroyed in 1903 when flood conditions destroyed the dam and the "little frame church building." Land had previously been purchased at the corner of Ramapo and Passaic Avenue, Pompton Lakes, where the present parish building was erected to accommodate a growing membership.

From 1880 to the present time 17 clergymen served the Church alternating at times of financial stress with Lay Readers. Among the latter were Henry Churchill DeMille father of the late Cecil B. DeMille, movie director, who stated at one time "I can remember going Sunday after Sunday to church with my father and listening to him preach. The 'King of Kings' had its genesis on those hard pews of the little Episcopal Church".