Early History of Episcopalians in Linden, New Jersey
Schoolhouse on Stiles Street
On April 3, 1870, the Rev. Dr. J. Abercrombie from St. Paul’s in Rahway gathered a group of Episcopalians first in the home of A. Wheeler and then in a Schoolhouse on Stiles Street. Both Methodists and Episcopalians used the Schoolhouse. The Methodists eventually purchased the Schoolhouse, added a bell tower and moved it to their present location on Wood Avenue. In 1927, the Methodists razed the wooden building and replaced it with the present structure next to City Hall.
Meeker Wood House
As the Linden Episcopalians contined to organize themselves, they gathered for worship in 1870 at the Meeker Wood House, an early Revolutionary home of Meeker Wood, while the first Episcopal Church in Linden was built on W. Linden Avenue. The church building as opened in 1875 under the leadership of the Rev. John Denniston. The original Meeker Wood house was razed to create the condominiums near the Linden Train Station.
Walther Luttgens
Walther Luttgens, a wealthy banker and philanthropist, lived in Linden because of its waterfront access for his yacht. He was among the original members of the church. In 1876 he and other members of the church repurchased the original building and land on West Linden Avenue and in 1885 donated the land on Washington and Elm to which the building was moved.