Central Recent   

Central Bible Church

a particular congregation in the

Orthodox Presbyterian Church,

the Presbytery of New Jersey

Rev. James Allay

pastor

Mr. George Forbes

elder

Central Bible Church

18th and Central Aves.

North Wildwood, NJ 08260


Central Bible Historical Notes

 postcard

    The North Wildwood Union Church grew out of the North Wildwood Union Sunday School which was organized on Dec. 8, 1907 and operated out of the North Wildwood Public School building, later known as the “Hazelhurst,” on 17th Avenue. For twenty years the work was carried on under the auspices of the Sunday School. All Christians were welcomed to participate in the activities of the School without respect to denominational affiliation and, in this same broad spirit, preaching and gospel meetings were held from time to time. With the opening of the chapel building at 18th and Central Ave. (Aug. 18, 1921) Mr. A.F. Hirst conducted worship each Sunday morning and evening until March 22, 1926. Rev. Dr. Charles L. Hunter, formerly pastor of Baptist Churches in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, was called as pastor. At a service held November 23, 1927, combining a Thanksgiving meeting with the observance of the twentieth anniversary of the Sunday School, Dr. Hunter announced that the places were about complete for the organization of a Union Church. These places together with a proposed constitution and by-laws were presented to the School at the regular business meeting on December 14th 1927. By vote of the Sunday School the Pastor was authorized to call a congregational meeting and proceed with the organization of the church. This was done, and on Monday evening January 16, 1928 the church was officially organized .
            In September of 1937 the name of the church was modified to North Wildwood Bible Church. In January 1950 the name of the church was changed to Faith Chapel. In the early sixties it became Faith Bible Presbyterian Chapel during which time Mr. George Forbes was ordained as an elder in that denomination. It returned to independent status in the later sixties as Central Bible Church. In January, 2002 the congregation officially called Rev. Jim Allay to be its pastor and requested the Presbytery of New Jersey to receive it into the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

            On March 10, 2002 Central Bible was recognized as a particular church of the Presbytery of New Jersey of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.