Goin' to the Chapel: Revisiting Oakland Presbyterian Church
- Jim Crescitelli
- Aug 9
- 3 min read
I am not an interesting travel companion. While cohorts spend their days and nights swilling colorful cocktails (and their mornings sleeping it all off) that contain WAY too many ingredients, I can be found deep in the recesses of a cathedral or simple country church. Immersed in the silent architecture, I glory in the intricacies of simple, hand-hewn pews, or soaring stained glass windows: just who IS that colorful figure surrounded by goats and flame?
SANCTUARY!
When I was a kid visiting the library, I sketched a detailed drawing of Notre Dame while fascinated staff and visitors crowded around my tiny table in the children's section.
To this day, I can't visit a city or town without locating its churches and cathedrals. One memorable visit to a small Catholic church in cape Cod had me sitting through a miles-long recitation of the Rosary before Mass, voiced loudly by local women in their chowdery accents: "In the name of the Fahhhhhhhhthah..."
OAKLAND: CLOSER TO HOME
When I first moved to the area in 1978, I immediately began exploring West Orange County, especially captivated by a village called Oakland and its nearby neighbor, Tildenville. Many photographs and blog posts later (https://jimmyboi2.wordpress.com), I am privileged to work in the field, and often find myself located even further afield as I continue to explore our fascinating local history. (Ask nicely, and they'll invite you inside.)
It turns out that the Oakland Presbyterian Church edifice in the town is actually the third structure to bear the name. Though Oakland since the very beginning boasted churches reflecting the Episcopalian and Baptist faiths, "Oakland Pres" became dominant in regard to the size of its congregation.
Photographs from both my explorations and the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation Archive tell the story; come along with me as we begin our journey in the final years of the 19th. century...
In 1919, plans were laid to construct a larger edifice in brick, which would rise at the SW corner of Starr Street and Oakland Avenue. By 1920, a handsome sanctuary of cream-colored brick welcomed worshipers. In later years, ivy grew across its facade, adding a bucolic, verdant layer to the beloved church.
The new church featured stunning stained glass windows, two of which were sponsored by Oakland pioneers: the Speer and Tilden families. They survive today in the administrative halls of the present structure:
When the church was replaced by the present sanctuary in 1972, many locals purchased the 1920 church's stained glass windows. The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation was graced with this window donated by the Ross family, and a few years ago it was given by us to the new Healthy West Orange Arts and Heritage Center at Oakland, where it lives today:
The Grimes family saved these two window sections and incorporated them into their home:
And yet another family saved a "filler" section that rested between two arched windows:
But wait... there's more! When you enter Moon Cricket Grill, turn immediately around and look above the door- these stained glass sections came from the second sanctuary:
Since the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation Archive is also affectionately referred to as "West Orange County's attic," you can imagine how thrilled we are when a family or business donates an artifact or document for preservation. We treasure a royal purple altar cloth from the second church, for example, and a collection plate in addition to the sconces.
While the stained glass items you have just seen here are not in our collection, we rest assured knowing that they are conserved lovingly in the homes of local families.
And we're told that there is even more from Oakland Pres out there...
let us know if you are among these preservationists!
Stay in touch, and thanks to all who shared photos with us
and allowed us access to their treasures.