History of First Congregational Church, Montclair NJ

First  Congregational  Church was  organized  in  1870, and  for  107 years  has  tried  to  be  faithful  to  both  its heritage  and  its  opportunity.    In  1910,  the  first  pastor  of  the  church,  Dr.  Amory H.  Bradford,  wrote: "My  earnest hope  for  the  Church  in  the  future is  that under worthy  leadership  it may become a  rejoicing  and victorious  Church,  which keeps the Gospel  always  in  the  foreground;   whose doors  are never  closed;    which  is  glad  in  the spirit  of Christ  to go about  doing good,  and which  finds  its  supreme  joy  in  continuing His ministry  to all sorts  and conditions  of men....

Article from the Washington Post Magazine (by Phyllis Theroux), September 19, 1982. Till he was 50 he rode the escalator to corporate power; now 20 years later, on the other side of alcoholism and thoughts of suicide, wealth seems worth less than wisdom. This file also includes a copy of Oakland's Not for Burning, A Dynamic Experiment in Urban Development by Amory Bradford, published by David McKay Company, New York, in 1968. The copy of this book was donated by John and Clara DeBoer. [bradford0007]

Mrs.  F. Eggert read an able memorial on the death of Rev. Amory Bradford,  and it was moved and seconded that a copy be placed in the records of the church and  also sent to the  family and former church of the deceased. This document is available as a PDF, click here . [bradford0006]

Handwritten notes for Amory Howe Bradford Minister F.C.C. 1870-1910 (author unknown) First paragraph: Less than two years before Amory Howe Bradford died, the citizens of Montclair honored him with a testimonial dinner. He was without doubt - the outstanding citizen in the town. People from differing religious persuasions, the Governor of the State of New Jersey and people from every walk of life wanted to honor this man. The main speaker alluded to the time when Dr. Bradford would no longer walk the familiar streets and said he could properly be evaluated and recalled in the words of Brutus: "His life was gentle; and the elements so mixed in him, that nature might stand up and say to all the world, This was a man." A 19 page PDF of this document is available, click here . [bradford0005]

"Welcome Home" to Dr. Bradford by the Men's Club First Congregational Church, Montclair, N.J. Wilde Memorial Chapel March 25, 1909. Mr. Charles S. Olcott, presiding Addresses of Welcome Reverend Robert Seneca Smith Mr. Starr J. Murphy Response Dr. Bradford The Laymen's Opportunity Mr. Frank A. Ferris The Church Brotherhood Rev. Harry Emerson Fosdick Loyalty to the Church Rev. William Douglass Mackenzie, D.D. Menu Officers Charles S. Olcott, President J. Allyn Oakley, Secretary Executive Committee James Ames Charles Whiting Baker Elvord G. Chamberlin William B. Dickson Charles M. Dutcher Andrew Morrison Willis C. Noble, M.D. Edward T. Wilkinson James T. Whittlesey [bradford0004] Envelope marked Amory Howe Bradford, Minister 1870-1911. CDB1977.

Amory Howe Bradford, postcards of Bust 1916. [bradford0003] - file contains 8 postcards, 6 are duplicates.

Jean Chesterman, great-granddaughter of Amory Howe Bradford, 1969 [bradford0002]

Late Pastor of First Congregational Church, Montclair, N.J. Reprinted from pamphlet published in 1904. Conclusion.- With the construction of the tunnels under the Hudson already projected, nothing can long prevent the increase of population in this part of Eastern New Jersey. I venture to prophesy that within ten years it will not only have caught up with, but will have passed Philadelphia, and then that for years to come it will keep the third place among American municipalities. It may be either a vast aggregation of unsympathetic classes controlled by some more corrupt Tammany, or a city worthy of its incomparable location and wonderful natural beauty, whose people shall love truth and work righteousness. Which it will be will depend very largely on the vision and courage of those who are now its citizens, and on their attitude toward the facts and figures contained in this essay. Available as a PDF, click here . [bradford0001]