A short history of St. Barnabas Church Roseville, Newark, NJ Pt. 1

St. Barnabas' Church, on the triangle formed by Warren Street (West Market Street), Sussex and Roseville avenues, began its existence when the first service of the parish was held in a dwelling-house on September 12, 1852. The following year it was fully organized. William Dusenberry, a layman, was chiefly instrumental in establishing the parish. By a deed dated 1st October 1853, Cyrus Peck and wife conveyed the lot upon which the church and school-house are now erected, to the Rectors, Wardens, and Vestrymen of the Church of St. Barnabas, Roseville, in the city of Newark, in fee, upon the condition that a church and school-house should be erected thereon, and which church edifice should be consecrated, appropriated, and devoted forever exclusively to the service of Almighty God, according to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. The Sunday school was organized October 9, 1852. The first church edifice was of wood and consecrated in 1855 by Bishop George W. Doane. It was burned in 1862. The present stone structure, without the transepts, was consecrated on St. Barnabas' Day, 1864. The transepts were added in 1869. The rectory was built in 1869, and the parish house in 1889. The porch at the entrance facing Warren Street was added in 1913. The succession of rectors follows: Rev. G. N. Sleight, 1855; Rev. Mr. Leech, 1856; Rev. E. S. Watson, 1860; Rev. William J. Lynd, 1863-1867; Rev. Robert McMurdy, D. D., LL. D, 1868-1869; Rev. William G. Farrington, 1870; Rev. George F. Flichtner, 1873-1883, Rev. Stephen H. Granberry, 1884-1915,Rev. Walter F. Hayward, Rev. Marshall F. Montgomery, Rev. Harry Bruce, Rev. Robert E. B. Hall, Rev. Robert Laughlin Pierson(1960-1967?) *, Rev. R.J. Smith, The Rev. Canon Dr. Paul Ekezie, the Revd. Canon Elizabeth Kaeton and the Rev. Mildred J. Solomon Since 2003 the Church has been served by Supply Priests 

In 1865, a dedicated group of women known as the Ladies Society of Saint Barnabas established The Hospital of Saint Barnabas in a private home. Eliza Titus, who was the first patient, gave her small estate to help in creating the first hospital on McWhorter Street in Newark, It Latter moved to High Street in 1869 and then to Livingston on November 29, 1964. When the hospital laid the corner stone to the High Street address on June 11th, 1869 (Saint Barnabas Day), the rector Rev. McMurdy, John Suydam a Warden of Saint Barnabas Church, and Dr. Sanford B. Hunt were elected to the Board of Managers of the Saint Barnabas Hospital Association. 

During the Great Depression (1930's), Saint Barnabas Church boasted over five hundred Parishioners, and supported two priests and two organists.