A Look at the History of this Amazing Church of Toms River, New Jersey
I love to give you articles that help educate and bring awareness to events, organizations and buildings of history here at the Jersey Shore. To give you some insight into things that helped shape our communities here at the Jersey Shore and around New Jersey.
I’ll be honest and say upfront that after researching the history of the United Methodist Church of Toms River, I didn't come across a ton of information, but I give you a snapshot of what was happening at the time the church was founded in the early 1800s.
The first time I became familiar with the First United Methodist Church of Toms River on Chesnut and Old Freehold Road was during an event with Caregiver Voluneteers of Central Jersey. They would hold their “volunteer appreciation” dinner each year at the church. The evening would begin with a service at the First United Methodist Church ⛪ and then the dinner at the activities area. It was always a fun time and an honor to celebrate the work these volunteers did with the elderly in the community.
Looking at the history of the First United Methodist Church of Toms River, according to the website USA churches.org, it appears the church was founded in 1828. Making the church 193 years old. John Quincy Adams was President of the United States. At the end of the year Andrew Jackson defeated Adams in a landslide victory. Isaac Halstead Williamson was the Governor of New Jersey.
The population of Toms River at the time the First United Methodist Church began was just under 3,000 residents. In 1830, two years after the church was founded, the population of Toms River was estimated at 2,898.
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