St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

51 Mountain Way
Morris Plains, NJ   07950-0104
Telephone:  (973) 285-0884

E-Mail:  parishadmin@stpaulsmp.org

St. Paul’s was founded in the spring of 1921, the first Episcopal Church between Morristown and Dover.  The first meetings were held in Morris Plains in the John R. Cronshey home, the old firehouse, and American Mechanic’s Hall, with the Rev. John C. Lord officiating.

The Rev. Lord began regular services on Christmas Day in 1921.  At that time, the congregation was called “Christ Mission Church” and a Sunday school was formed.  The name was changed to St. Paul’s prior to 1924 when the first confirmands were presented to the Bishop.

In May 1949, the Rev. Dr. John C. van Dyk was appointed lay reader in charge, then as the ninth vicar, and finally, the first rector in 1955.  At this time, St. Paul’s began its sponsorship of Alcoholics Anonymous, Alanon and Alateen.

The Rev. David H. Hamilton, the third rector, came to St. Paul’s as a curate in 1970.  He became rector in 1971.  Under Father Hamilton’s guidance, St. Paul’s became known as a teaching parish. 

Fourteen men and women have served as curates and most were ordained to the priesthood in the Church, including Abigail Painter (Hamilton), the first woman ordained priest in the diocese, and Deacon Donald C. McEwan.  These curates served the parish from 1966 through 1979.

A Brief History of the Episcopal Church 

by Christy Campbell

Did you know that our National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. is an Episcopal Cathedral?  The word cathedral comes from the Latin cathedra, which means the bishop's throne.  The National Cathedral dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul is the cathedral home of the Presiding Bishop while they are in office (nine years).

The Episcopal Church is part of the world-wide Anglican Communion; the connection stems from the break with the Anglican Church during the American Revolution.  Our church governance in the legislative process of the General Convention was designed by the same men who crafted our bicameral form of federal government and in the same place, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, following the American Revolution.

The word "Episcopal" acknowledges our historic episcopate (the governance of bishops) and our catholicity drawn from the line of apostolic succession of our clerics - tracing their ordination to the priesthood back with an unbroken line to the original apostles of Christ.

When you visit St. Paul's Episcopal Church, you'll see the Episcopal shield by the chancel steps in the aisle carpet.  In the shield is the red cross on a white field of St. George, the patron saint of England, representing our descent from the Church of England (the Anglican Church).

The blue in the upper left-hand corner is the light blue of the sky and a color associated with the Virgin Mary's clothing; it's called Madonna blue and represents the human nature of our Lord, which he received from his mother.