1940's
1941- Rev. William Webster, a retired Methodist Minister began serving as a full time pastor in October of 1941. Rev. Webster was originally from Baltimore, Maryland and went to Dickinson College in PA. He served in NY and PA as a minister. Owing to his wife’s failing health, he was transferred to Englishtown, NJ. The average pay for a full time minister was about $1200 a year plus a parsonage. Now we didn’t have a parsonage at the time but the board looked into some nearby bungalows that went for $20-$25 a month. Rev. Webster took the position for $15 a week. Now if that isn’t coming together for the community, I’m not sure what is. That spirit of giving what you have to serve the greater good has been with us since the beginning. In case you are wondering, $15 times 52 weeks = $780 for the year. He immediately began making suggestions, some of which we still keep today. (Nov 1941 meeting notes) : 1.To make the offering ceremony more stately, to have 2 ushers come forward after the collection has been received, while the congregation sings “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” 2. “That the front part of the church be made more presentable... with a runner in the center aisle... and a golden cross, the whole to have a more impressive appearance and look more like a church.” (Mr. Massom reminded the board that a collection had been made for a runner but that money went for the new heating system.) As many of you know, Rev. Webster also grew flowers on the side (and onions at one point) and brought them to church to show and be sold, if possible. Omit - Good old Ms. Helen McComb recalled that Mr. Webster became an “erratic driver” with age. “One evening, a state trooper in the area of Keyport observed him flying down highway 35. He followed Rev. Webster and halted him on the curb, questioning him about his excessive speed, whereupon Mr. Webster said, ‘Well Officer, you see I have to hurry because I have ice cream in the back and it’s melting. So, you see, it’s an emergency!’ The trooper smiled, noted his age and let him go on his merry way.”
1940s - the war years - The board spent more time discussing such things as blackout curtains, how to keep in touch with men who had served abroad as well as how to better serve the community in general. The Victory club was formed, a women’s group, out of this desire that did much to raise money in the spirit of benevolence.
Feb 8th, 1942: We paid off our mortgage and held a Mortgage burning party! The total cost of the lots purchased and the church was $8,879.79. Mr. Lanning, a member of the Board of Trustees stated, “This church was built in a hurry when times were good and money plentiful. Then came the depression, but the church debt was paid off just the same.” Again, this is a perfect example of the community members goodwill and fellowship. In other news, on May 17: the Flag Committee bought an American flag and a Christian flag. Cost: $160. July 15: The board determined to inquire about a janitor to clean the church for $2-$3 per week while Mr. Massom hoped to obtain a vacuum cleaner. (Two months later, in August, Mr. Miller got the job for $2.00/week. The vacuum arrived a year later in July 1943.)
1949 - Over the years, the community members raised money with the intent to purchase an organ. However, these were (and still are) costly and throughout the years, those funds had to be diverted from time to time for other more urgent needs. Additionally, the board determined that we should not purchase an organ during the war years even if we could afford it. Finally, in 1949, after much patience and about a decade of raising money, our organ was finally purchased. The charity of our church members had paid off! (Now if only we can find someone to play it again!)
