2016

50th Anniversary of the Current Church Building

June 4, 2016

120th Anniversary of the Founding of St. Peter's Episcopal Church

November 21, 2016

1985

St. Peter's Founds St. Peter's Haven

1985

St. Peter's Episcopal Church approves the founding of St. Peter's Haven, which opens its first shelter for homeless families on Oct 30, 1986.

1976

Biblical Garden Established

October 31, 1976

Biblical garden is created and dedicated to Frank David Moorman, the son of city councilman Vernon Moorman. Frank Moorman, a parishioner of the church and former student of the Clifton School district, served in Vietnam. Posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor after the military determined he was killed in action, his name can be found on the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. However, in Clifton, a plaque in the biblical garden at St. Peter's reads "Biblical Garden, in Honor of Frank David Moorman."

1966

Cornerstone of New Church is Laid

March 23, 1966

The Reverend Louis Luisa laid cement on the cornerstone for the new church building.

Dedication of New Church Building

June 4, 1966

The new church building is dedicated. The Rt. Rev. Leland Stark, DD, Bishop of Newark, and the Rt. Rev. George E. Rath, STD, Suffragen Bishop, officiate.

1965

St. Peter's Episopal Church is Demolished

June 3, 1965

St. Peter's Episcopal Church is razed to make way for a new church building.

St. Peter's Episopal Church is Secularized

May 7, 1965

St. Peter's Episcopal Church is deconsecrated so it can be demolished to make space for a new church building.

1946

St. Peter's Celebrates Golden Jubilee

November 21, 1946

St. Peter's Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Its Founding

1942

Vestry Approves Parish Hall as Emergency Shelter

Feb 7, 1942

Clifton Defense Council's request for the use of the Parish Hall as a shelter in case of an emergency approved. Dr. Joseph Jehl resigns his spot on the vestry and enlists in the U.S. Army, along with other parishioners and residents of Clifton, NJ.

1935

St. Peter's Receives Bell from School #3 from the Clifton Board of Ed

1935

The Rev. Grambs made a few "begging visits" to the board of education between 1933 and 1935 when the vote passed. To utilize the 450-pound bell, St. Peter's built a belfry to harmonize with the Church and the bell was installed. When it came time for the Parish to build a new church, the bell was preserved and hung in the new belfry, where it stands today.

1917

St. Peter's Enlists in World War I

April 1917

The Rev. John G. Martin takes a leave to serve as a YMCA worker in World War I. In all, 35 men and 1 woman from St. Peter's enlist in 1917 to fight "the war to end all wars." In 1919, enlister Lloyd Bogart, makes a dramatic entrance when he walks into the office of his father, who had accepted the government's report that he had made the supreme sacrifice.

Clifton Becomes an Inorporated City

April 26, 1917

Clifton is incorporated as a city. St. Peter's parishioner, Clarence W. Finkle, Sr. Chairman of the township committee, serves as a temporary mayor until January 1, 1918.

1914

The Rev. John G. Martin - 1st Rector of St. Peter's

St. Peter's acquires its first rector, John Goodridge Martin.

1913

Diocese Grants Women the Right to Vote

August 1913

The canons of the diocese change granting women the right to vote in parish meetings – 7 years before the nation passed the 19th amendment.

1911

St. Peter's Celebrates 15 Years

St. Peter's celebrates its 15th anniversary and writes the first history of the church.

1910

The Rev. Todd Becomes the Last "Minister-in-Charge"

March 1910

The Rev. Henry Baldwin Todd comes to St. Peter's as a lay reader. He is ordained as a deacon and becomes St. Peter's last "minister-in-charge."

1901

St. Peter's Celebrates its 5th Anniversary

November 20, 1901

The 5th anniversary service is held with St. Luke's choir in Paterson joining St. Peter's for a total of 40 voices.

1900

First Funeral Held

The first funeral in the "new" church is held for John S. Pollard, father of Mrs. S.R. Trevett. The year 1900 is practically unrecorded save for this event.

1899

First Service Held in Church Building

September 17, 1899

First service is held in the new church. Donations to the church include the altar and chandeliers from Trinity, Paterson; the font from St. John's, Passaic; and the bishop’s chair from either St. Paul's or Trinity.

1897

Dorcas Guild Forms

January 6, 1897

The first meeting of the Dorcas Guild, a fundraising organization for the parish, is held at the home of Mrs. George Anderson. In attendance are: Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. R. Trevett, W. B. Hait, C. Williamson, Cook, Derbyshire, Withers, Kock, Woodruff, E. A. Smoth and Misses Green and Bessie Hait. By April 14, 1898, membership will reach 18.

Lots Purchased on Clifton Avenue

January 14, 1897

The Dorcas Guild pays $72.66 for the lots on which the present church stands. They also form the Altar Guild and Choir Guild and open their homes for Students from General Theological Seminary who lead Sunday services.

Presentation of the 1st Confirmation Class to the Diocese

December 22, 1897

Father Evans and Mrs. Anderson present the first confirmation class, which include Everett T. and May F. Wells and Mrs. S. R. Trevert who will later bequeath her entire estate to St. Peter's Church. 

1896

St. Paul's Sunday School Classes Begin

August 16, 1896

Mrs. McDaniels starts St. Paul's Sunday School at McDaniels Hall on Florence Avenue, now Getty Avenue, opposite the strip mall on the corner of Clifton Avenue and Getty Avenue.

Rev. William P. Evans - 1st Minister-In-Charge

October 16, 1896

Bishop Thomas A. Starkey appoints the Rev. William P. Evans, Rector of St. Mark's Paterson, as Priest-in-Charge of the new mission.

1st Evening Prayer and Sermon Held

November 18, 1896

Church founder, Mr. Evans conducts the first Evening Prayer and Sermon. The Mission's name is changed to St. Peter at the request of Bishop Starkey.

St. Peter's Recognized as a Mission

November 21, 1896

Bishop Starkey recognizes St. Peter's as an organized mission.