History

The First Presbyterian Church at Red Bank is situated atop ten magnificent acres, one of the highest points in Monmouth County, affording spectacular views of the ocean to the east and the hills of Monmouth County to the west. The church spire, topped with the Celtic Cross, rises 126 feet, a landmark to mariners at sea and a beckoning sign to worshipers to come, worship and advance the love and peace of God throughout the world.

The church was formed in April of 1852 when eighty people in the Red Bank area petitioned the Presbytery of New Brunswick for a new church in Red Bank. The church first held services in what was known as The Forum on Mechanic Street in downtown Red Bank while a proper edifice was built at the corner of Broad and Wallace Street. The Reverend F. Reck Harbaugh was ordained and installed as the first pastor on October 23, 1853; he served for two years, and later returned to serve for twenty-three years from 1874 to 1897. The church building was finished in the summer of 1856, and a Reverend Charles Webster, a name that was to re-emerge in 1949, officiated at the first communion in that church setting.

The church remained in that location until 1910, when, having prospered and grown into a much larger congregation, the building was sold and torn down. A new pastor, The Reverend Dr. J. W. Rogan assumed the pulpit, having been promised a new building, which was built on the corner of Broad and Reckless Place. The cornerstone was laid in September of 1910 and the sanctuary dedicated in April 1911. Under his leadership, the church prospered and grew, having been erected at a cost of nearly seventy thousand dollars. Dr. Rogan died suddenly in November 1916, and two interim ministers served until the Rev. John Muyskens was installed in 1920.

In 1927, The Rev. Dr. John Hayes was called to serve as senior minister, a position he retained for 22 years. Described as a "very learned" man, Dr. Hayes led the church in a steady growth pattern, during which time a part-time Christian Education director was hired to better serve the burgeoning Sunday School. Dr. Hayes left in 1949 to assume a new pulpit in Georgia.

The Rev. Dr. Charles S. Webster arrived in 1949 and served the longest pastorate to date. The church, during his tenure, acquired its first full-time secretary, Director of Christian Education, and Minister of Music, and experienced an enormous increase in membership in eleven years. Through Dr. Webster's efforts, the church purchased from Abraham Elkus White the Tower Hill site, described by the Architect for the National Council of Churches as "one of the finest sites for a church in the United States." In 1963 the Tower Hill Cooperative Nursery School was founded, and the vigorous high school youth program known as Campus Club also began during these years. Dr. Webster resigned in 1975 after twenty-five years to pastor The Morrings Church in Naples, Florida.

The Rev. Dr. Gerald Mills occupied the pulpit as senior minister from 1976 until 1986. During his tenure, adult education was expanded, and the Venture of Faith giving program was instituted. A Stephen Ministry was instituted that provided great outreach to the congregation. Dr. Mills left to start a new church development in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

The Rev. Thomas T. Crenshaw was installed as senior minister in 1987 and served until 1993. He greatly encouraged the congregation in personal spiritual growth and small group ministries. The Hispanic Ministry program of Monmouth Presbytery was also based here during that time.

Dr. John David Burton served as Interim Minister twice, after the departure of both Dr. Mills and Rev. Crenshaw. Dr. Burton had retained close ties to our church after moving toKentucky.

From January 1996 to March 2003, The Rev. Dr. John L. Musgrave served as senior minister. Dr. Musgrave has emphasized the love and grace extended through Christ and hightened our awareness of the liturgy in worship. At the start of the new century, a renovation program was underway to coincide with the 150th anniversary.

The Rev. J. Roy Sharpe was our Interim Senior Pastor from March 2003 until October 2004.

The Rev. Stephen E. Beard accepted our call on March 13, 2005.