St. Peter's Church

History
St. Peter's Episcopal Church

All About St. Peter's
   Mission Statement
     History
     Welcoming Newcomers
     Staff, Wardens & Vestry         Facilities

A Brief History of St. Peter's

Soon after the founding of Mountain Lakes in 1911, the Rev. Henry B. Wilson, rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in nearby Boonton, conferred with Bishop Wilson R. Stearly about the need to establish a parish in Mountain Lakes. In 1919, a site was chosen and an option taken on the land where St. Peter's now stands.

In June 1923 St. John's School, which had earlier moved from Boonton to what is now the Henderson House at the Wilson School in Mountain Lakes, offered its facilities as a meeting place for church activities. In August, the wardens and vestrymen of St. Peter's Church in Mountain Lakes were elected, thus making it the only church in the Newark Diocese originally organized as a parish, not a mission.

The first service was held in August 1923 in St. John's School with 90 people attending. The cornerstone for the present building was laid in October 1926 and the first service was held in the new church just one year later.

In its 84-year history, the parish of St. Peter's has been guided by eight priests with terms ranging from two to 17 years.

Milestones

1923 St. Peter's organized.
1927 First service in the new church.
1955 Ground breaking for the parish hall.
1956 Dedication of the parish hall.
1960 Vestry approved the purchase of the home at 221 Boulevard for a rectory and additional classrooms.
1964 Consecration of the church and mortgage burning.
1973 St. Peter's Golden Jubilee.
1978 Dedication of the Memorial Stained Glass Window in St. Peter's nave.
1981 Dedication of the Ronald Rowland Garth Memorial Garden.
1998 St. Peter's 75th anniversary.