The early Dutch settlers, seeking tillable land, migrated from their original settlements on Manhattan Island to Central New Jersey. Many Reformed churches remain in this area. Middlebush was settled by these immigrants around 1701. When asked where they lived, the early settlers replied in their native Dutch “In het midden van den bosch” (in the middle of the woods). Over time, this became Americanized to “Middlebush”.
The first settlers traveled to New Brunswick, Six Mile Run and Hillsborough to attend Dutch Reformed Church services. About 1830, a plan for organizing a Dutch Reformed Church in Middlebush was suggested. Four years later, a group of people gathered at the home of Ralph Vorhees (presently O’Connors Colonial Farms Restaurant) and began to organize a church. A Consistory of four Elders and four Deacons was ordained and soon after, thirty-nine members were dismissed from the three churches mentioned earlier to become the nucleus of the Dutch Reformed Church at Middlebush on March 19th, 1934. It is the fourth oldest church in Franklin Township.
Three locations for the church building were considered; one on Amwell Road north of the current location, one on South Middlebush Road south of the railroad tracks, and the one selected. One acre of land was given for the church lot and about five more acres continuing along South Middlebush Road were sold to the church. These five acres were divided into smaller lots and sold off in 1839. The cornerstone of the church building was laid on June 7th, 1834. During construction, the search for a pastor began. After hearing four candidates preach, a call was issued to Rev. Jacob Schultz, the pastor at White House and Lebanon, New Jersey. He was formally installed on December 30th, 1835. The new church building was completed soon afterward and was dedicated on February 30th, 1835. The cost was $3,989.25 and 1/2 cents. This building was a white frame structure similar to the many churches found along the country roads and many main streets of central New Jersey.
As the Dutch language was used less and less through the years, the denomination changed it’s name in 1867 to “The Reformed Church in America”.
Since 1834, several of our many pastors have had a lasting impact on the community. Den Herder Drive is named for our tenth pastor, Marinus J. Den Herder. Thomson Parkway and Thomson Park are named for our sixth pastor, John A. Thomson.
Pages: 1 2