It’s not every day your hometown church turns 275. In celebration of this monumental event, the Presbyterian Church of the Moriches community will be hosting several events throughout the year.
Proud of the church’s longevity, anniversary committee member Nancy Horton anticipates the year ahead. Horton is, notably, not the oldest, but one of the longest members of the church, having been baptized there as a baby 76 years ago. Her parents were married here, as were she and her husband, Richard.
“I love the church. I’ve been here my whole life and it’s just such a part of my life, it’s like breathing, it’s just what I do,” Horton said, admiring her time with the church.
Of the many things to love about the church, she said, is one of their most prized possessions: the original organ, which was restored in 1978 and played by a baby grand piano. The members are also proud of the newly renovated kitchen adorned by original wood floors, which helps make one of most successful Mother’s Day tea fundraisers possible. This year will mark the 25th anniversary for the tea as well.
About 10 years ago, the church’s first female minister, Jeannine M. Frenzel, arrived. She has since moved on to Pennsylvania in 2020. Currently, the church has an interim minister, Rev. Mark Applewhite. The church also has ruling elders, about a dozen deacons, and a session with about half a dozen voting members. Their services are held every Sunday at 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
One of the church’s most important community outreaches is their food pantry. The pantry, which serves up to 50 families per week, is open on Monday evenings and staffed by church members and local volunteers.
Choir member and deacon Linda Davis has also been a longtime member and joined in 1998. She has been the director of the children’s choir and served on the Board of Trustees. She currently serves as the co-director of the food pantry with Dawn Murray.
“This is our third decade of serving our neighbors in need in our community, and we have a terrific group of dedicated volunteers who are there every Monday,” she explained. “We serve over 5,000 families a year and offer clothing, bedding, toys, kitchenware, pet food, as well as food to our clients every week. Everyone involved with the food pantry—volunteers, donors, recipients—share our common humanity and the need to take care of our brothers and sisters, every week.”
Bill Phillips, chairperson of this anniversary committee and elder, joined the church about 12 years ago with his wife.
“We attended a few Sundays and it inspired friendship, acceptance, and a place of peace and caring,” he said of the atmosphere. “My experiences since that first Sunday have been a positive one, which have affected many corners of my life.”
Since then, he has become the coordinator for the upkeep of the church and joined as the chair of the 275th anniversary committee.
“I am happy to welcome the community to celebrate with us,” he added. “Our church has been an icon in the community for 275 years and hopes to continue for many generations to come.”
THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
The church was founded in 1748, reorganized in 1831, incorporated in 1839 and had the first edifice in 1809, second in 1839 and enlarged in 1861, rebuilt in 1886 and had a Sunday school extension in 1931. The church has had over 20 ministers, including their first female minister in 2010.
The first recorded church documents date back to Oct. 20, 1748. The minister at that time was Rev. Nehamiah Greenman, a graduate of Yale Divinity School. He was a circuit rider, a horse-riding preacher with a Bible in a saddlebag. He covered the South Shore from Quogue to South Haven, then known as Fire Place. At that time, services were held in people’s homes.
The first building of the church was erected in 1809 at the site of their present edifice at 263 Main Street in Center Moriches. By the mid-1800s, Center Moriches had about 600 residents, two churches, four stores, two hotels, a blacksmith shop, a grist mill, a boat builder, and a few tradesmen. Most residents earned their living from the soil or the bay.
The church has since become a landmark building and has been enlarged many times since its inception, most recently in 1986 for their education/food pantry wing.
CELEBRATION EVENTS
The first event will be held on April 16 at 2 p.m. with a piano/organ concert by Michele Garzo, concert pianist. The concert is $20. The second event will be the annual Mother’s Day Tea, a three-course Victorian tea on May 13. Then, the church will host a community celebration on Sept. 23 with an open house, including food and fun at no charge.
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