Name/Title
White Oak Ridge Chapel History, 1871Entry/Object ID
2022.061.001Description
White Oak Ridge Chapel, 291 Parsonage Hill Road, was constructed in 1871 and was the first permanent church in Millburn Building is a 1 1/2 story clapboard Colonial with cupola. Wings were added in 1875 & 1876. The belfry was added in 1946.
The founding of the White Oak Ridge Chapel, as well as its eventual transition into Covenant Presbyterian Church, began with the Parsil family. William Parsil of Short Hills was attending the Chatham Village Presbyterian Church when he decided to convert to a different sect of Christianity. He then created a Sabbath School and Bible study group out of a one-room wooden school located on White Oak Ridge, right off of Parsonage Hill Road.
Later on, both establishments relocated to the western edge of the field (known as the Poor Farm). The group saw success and growth in numbers despite sect diversity (Baptists, Presbyterians, etc.)
William H. Parsil, William Parsil’s son, donated a portion of his land to provide a building for the group, which was completed in 1871. Both a Sunday School and a board of trustees were then incorporated into the church’s system. Renovations were added throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, from electric lighting in 1910 to a 24-foot wing in 1936.
Between 1982 and 1983, the property began to merge with a new mission church that was only four years old at the time, the Covenant Presbyterian Church. Covenant had its beginnings as a Bible Study at Donald Peterson’s home where Reverend William Iverson led the group. In July 1980, Covenant had its first public worship Service. Moving from the Paragano Building and Taylor Park, Covenant was eventually given space for worship at both Christ Church and the White Oak Ridge Chapel. Not long after, Covenant started hosting joint worship services with the White Oak Ridge Chapel, which was now without a pastor and experiencing a decline in members. In 1985, Covenant Presbyterian Church assumed ownership of the Chapel. Although the White Oak Ridge Chapel is no longer in existence today, Covenant Presbyterian Church continues to maintain the good work started over 180 years ago by William Parsil.Acquisition
Accession
2022.061Source or Donor
Patty MeolaAcquisition Method
Gift