1874 - 1882

It became evident that building a church home was necessary to increase the membership. To Brother T. Bigwood, who was baptized in the pond at Willow Grove, we are indebted largely for the origin of this house.

Out of the depths of his poverty, he contrived to lay down, on God’s altar, $110 to build the first house of worship ever erected in Newfield. 

Mr. George Walker, station master, offered to give a lot on the Northwest Boulevard to any Evangelical Society who would be the first to build a house for the Lord. Isaac Leonard proposed, if they would take hold of the work of building a church, he would furnish the cedar siding to enclose it and the shingles to cover the building. In order to make good his promise, he was compelled to go into his swamp, axe in hand, cut the logs, cart them to the mill, have them faced, and thence carted to Newfield.

Dedication Sunday was planned for May 14, 1874, Rev. Charles Kain of Mullica Hill preached, using the appropriate text, Psalm 26:8, "Lord I have loved the habitation of thy house and the place where Thy honor dwelleth." The Baptist members still allowed other denominations to use their facilities half of the time, being neighborly was essential in a small town. By June, 1874, the property was debt free. Having much to sing praises about, a choir was organized in 1878 by Brother Snyder, the chorister. Reluctantly, the congregation accepted Pastor Leonard’s resignation in April, 1882.