Metuchen
New Jersey
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Saint Luke's Episcopal Church of Metuchen
Mission:
The Mission of St. Luke's Episcopal Church is to live out our Baptismal Covenant to be the Body of Christ: by providing an inclusive, welcoming and supportive place for corporate worship; by continuing and furthering our ministry to and of our youth and children; by seeking and serving Christ in all persons, and loving our neighbors as ourselves through an open-door ministry of community outreach to those in need and through joyous celebration of all our ministries and by providing educational programs and facilities to teach us how to strive for justice and peace among all people, respect the dignity of every human being and care for all God's creation.
Who We Are:
Our demographics are as diverse as our personalities. While 75% of the congregation live in the Metuchen/ Edison area, the remainder are drawn from a wide area. It takes 60% of us less than 10 minutes to get to church, 22% of us 10-20 minutes; and 9% of us travel 20-30 minutes. 65% of us are married and 75% of us attend church about every week. 35% of us have been a part of the parish for more than 25 years, whereas 40% have been members for less than 10 years. 55% of us are employed full-time 10 % are employed part-time, 8% are self-employed, 6 % are currently unemployed, and 28% of us are retired. Our most common professions are professional (17%), managerial/executive (16%), education (13%) and full-time homemaker (12%). 33% of us have a graduate degree, 30% have completed a four-year college and 25% of us have a two-year college degree or high school diploma.
History:
Before the Civil War, a number of Metuchen village residents attended St. Paul's Church in the neighboring town of Rahway. With the encouragement of St Paul's rector, services began in Metuchen at the home of Henry Handy in 1867. The new congregation grew rapidly and in 1868 construction began on the church building. Designed by the noted ecclesiastical architect Richard Upjohn, St. Luke's Church is a fine example of a Carpenter Gothic church.
During its first 50 years, St. Luke's served as a "chapel of ease" for the "riding club" set and various New York literati who used Metuchen as a rural retreat. In fact, the town was known as the "Brainy Borough" because of the number of prominent literary figures who resided here. Henry Mills Alden, legendary editor of Harper's Magazine was a warden and the poet Joyce Kilmer was married at St. Luke's. Frequent parish visitors included Mark Twain, Helen Keller, Joseph Pulitzer and Ogden Nash.
In the late 1950s, central New Jersey mushroomed into a major suburban area. At this time, the Rev. Dr. William Hugh Fryer became rector and presided over a time of major growth and construction at St. Luke's. With more than 300 families on the parish list and over 350 church school students, more space was needed, and a brick education building was added in 1960 and enlarged in 1968. After Dr. Fryer's retirement in 1969, the building was named "Fryer Hall" in his honor.
In 1970, the Rev. E. Walton Zelley became rector, and under his leadership the church greatly expanded its ministry to the community. We became a home to many 12-Step and other community programs. St. Luke's was instrumental in establishing a shelter for homeless women and children. It was housed in the auditorium of Fryer Hall until a larger facility was secured. Also under Fr. Zelley's leadership, we established St. Luke's Memorial Garden and renovated the interior of our buildings to reflect more current liturgical practices. Fr. Zelley retired as Rector Emeritus after 28 years of service.
Within the Diocese of New Jersey, St. Luke's Church has become known as a training ground for those who are exploring their call to the ordained ministry, seminarians and newly ordained priests. The church has raised up many new priests from its parish ranks and many of our curates have gone on to successful and prominent ministries, both within and outside the diocese.
The Mission of St. Luke's Episcopal Church is to live out our Baptismal Covenant to be the Body of Christ: by providing an inclusive, welcoming and supportive place for corporate worship; by continuing and furthering our ministry to and of our youth and children; by seeking and serving Christ in all persons, and loving our neighbors as ourselves through an open-door ministry of community outreach to those in need and through joyous celebration of all our ministries and by providing educational programs and facilities to teach us how to strive for justice and peace among all people, respect the dignity of every human being and care for all God's creation.
Who We Are:
Our demographics are as diverse as our personalities. While 75% of the congregation live in the Metuchen/ Edison area, the remainder are drawn from a wide area. It takes 60% of us less than 10 minutes to get to church, 22% of us 10-20 minutes; and 9% of us travel 20-30 minutes. 65% of us are married and 75% of us attend church about every week. 35% of us have been a part of the parish for more than 25 years, whereas 40% have been members for less than 10 years. 55% of us are employed full-time 10 % are employed part-time, 8% are self-employed, 6 % are currently unemployed, and 28% of us are retired. Our most common professions are professional (17%), managerial/executive (16%), education (13%) and full-time homemaker (12%). 33% of us have a graduate degree, 30% have completed a four-year college and 25% of us have a two-year college degree or high school diploma.
History:
Before the Civil War, a number of Metuchen village residents attended St. Paul's Church in the neighboring town of Rahway. With the encouragement of St Paul's rector, services began in Metuchen at the home of Henry Handy in 1867. The new congregation grew rapidly and in 1868 construction began on the church building. Designed by the noted ecclesiastical architect Richard Upjohn, St. Luke's Church is a fine example of a Carpenter Gothic church.
During its first 50 years, St. Luke's served as a "chapel of ease" for the "riding club" set and various New York literati who used Metuchen as a rural retreat. In fact, the town was known as the "Brainy Borough" because of the number of prominent literary figures who resided here. Henry Mills Alden, legendary editor of Harper's Magazine was a warden and the poet Joyce Kilmer was married at St. Luke's. Frequent parish visitors included Mark Twain, Helen Keller, Joseph Pulitzer and Ogden Nash.
In the late 1950s, central New Jersey mushroomed into a major suburban area. At this time, the Rev. Dr. William Hugh Fryer became rector and presided over a time of major growth and construction at St. Luke's. With more than 300 families on the parish list and over 350 church school students, more space was needed, and a brick education building was added in 1960 and enlarged in 1968. After Dr. Fryer's retirement in 1969, the building was named "Fryer Hall" in his honor.
In 1970, the Rev. E. Walton Zelley became rector, and under his leadership the church greatly expanded its ministry to the community. We became a home to many 12-Step and other community programs. St. Luke's was instrumental in establishing a shelter for homeless women and children. It was housed in the auditorium of Fryer Hall until a larger facility was secured. Also under Fr. Zelley's leadership, we established St. Luke's Memorial Garden and renovated the interior of our buildings to reflect more current liturgical practices. Fr. Zelley retired as Rector Emeritus after 28 years of service.
Within the Diocese of New Jersey, St. Luke's Church has become known as a training ground for those who are exploring their call to the ordained ministry, seminarians and newly ordained priests. The church has raised up many new priests from its parish ranks and many of our curates have gone on to successful and prominent ministries, both within and outside the diocese.