Magyar Egyház, 1974 (53. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1974-11-01 / 11. szám
xMAGYAR EGYHÁZ 13 THE PAST EIGHTY YEARS OF OUR TRENTON CHURCH Five years ago we celebrated the diamond anniversary of our Hungarian Reformed Church of Trenton. For that jubilee an Anniversary Book was compiled, which contained a detailed history of the past 75 years. For the 80th anniversary this short church history has been prepared which recalls the highlights of the past and gives a more detailed report of present church life. 1894— Immigrant Hungarian Reformed Christians organized the “Church and Sick Benefit Society.” The first worship service and Holy Communion was held at Christmas in 1894. 1895— Rev. Gustav Jurányi organized the Hungarian Church of Trenton, under the auspices of the Reformed Church in America, a German origin denomination. 1898— Our present sanctuary was erected under the pastorate of Rev. Ferenc Csámfordi, at a cost of $3,165. 1899— Rev. Stephen Virág was the pastor, and in the same year the first parsonage was built for $1,500. 1903—The first bell was installed in the steeple. 1906—Rev. Sándor Vajo became the pastor. In 1909 our church severed ties with the Reformed Church in America and joined the Mother Church in Hungary, in order to preserve the Hungarian Reformed traditions both in doctrines and church government. 1910—Rev. Géza Korocz was elected pastor of the congregation and arrived from Hungary. During the 18 years of his pastorate, our church became a well-organized, strong and great congregation. 1916— An addition was built to the church to hold the large congregation. 1917— The first parsonage was moved to another location on Home Avenue, and a new parsonage was built. 1920—The Church Society donated our second bell. 1924—A new pipe organ was bought and installed. Rev. Korocz organized the Choir which became rather famous. Also, the Lorántffy Zsuzsanna Society was organized. 1928—This was the year when Rev. Zoltán Béky began his pastorate which lasted for 37 years. Our church became a member congregation of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America. The denomination came into being in Duquesne, Pa., 1924, from those Hungarian Reformed congregations which did not want to be incorporated into different American Protestant denominations after they could no longer belong to the Mother Church in Hungary as a result of the First World War. Rev. Béky continued to keep and further develop the life of the church by organizing the different church societies and beautifying the sanctuary. 1931—Our beautiful colonial two-story school was erected. Its cost was $83,000. 1951—The sanctuary received stained glass windows with Christian symbols, and our faithful women bought the center chandelier which always attracts attention by its splendor. 1954—The church became debt free. It was a great achievement, considering the cost of the new school and the many renovations. 1964— Rev. Béky resigned and became the president of the Hungarian Reformed Federation. 1965— Rev. Stephen Kovács became the new pastor of the church. He was caUed from the Akron, Ohio church where he had spent 26 years. The years from 1965 to the present can be called the “Decade of Renovations.” During this time, the church, the school, the parsonage and the two houses on Grand Street had been remodeled both inside and out. Some of the more expensive renovations and purchases were: new roofs both on the church and the school, a new organ, a new Lord’s Table, new ceilings in the church and the school auditorium, new communion chalices, new flags, new velvet covers, new partial carpeting, a new recreation room in the school basement, four new Sunday School rooms under the church and new kitchens in school basement and in the parsonage. The many other renovations and purchases are being faithfully recorded in the Year Books. The church and its organizations spent about $135,000 for these renovations and purchases. In spite of these great expenses, our church is debt free. Stephen Kovács Vacancy In Roebling, New Jersey The congregation of Roebling, New Jersey is looking for a new pastor to fill the present vacancy. The new pastor must speak both, Hungarian and English. Remuneration by agreement. Interested persons should write to the dean of the classis, the Rev. Dr. Andrew Harsanyi, 175 Pershing Avenue, Carteret, New Jersey 07008.
