upcbelviderenj.org

The United Presbyterian Church is the product of the merging of the First and Second Presbyterian Churches in Belvidere. The United Presbyterian Church worships at the site of the First Presbyterian Church, and the original building for the Second Presbyterian Church still stands on Market Street, just north of Water St.
The First Presbyterian Church of Belvidere was originally a church development of the Old Oxford Church, founded before 1744. A church was built in Belvidere in 1834 on its current site west of the Park, presented by G. D. Wall. The parsonage, on a lot adjacent, was built in 1848. The present substantial stone structure was erected after a fire had destroyed the original building in 1859. Over the 175 years of the church's history, twenty pastors have ministered to the congregation.
The Second Presbyterian Church was organized in 1849. In 1870 Dr. J. Marshall Paul presented a parsonage, which he had built in 1855 for a public reading room and library, under the name of Stadleman Institute. A Haskell electric organ was installed in 1910, the gift, in part, of Mr. Andrew Carnegie. Second Presbyterian closed its doors on May 24, 1964 when it merged with First to become United Presbyterian Church.
United Presbyterian Church, joined in 1964, has enjoyed the benefit of the wealth of history and energy of two faithful worshipping communities brought together. Over the years, UPC has engaged in a vital ministry to the community as it has sought to be a faithful witness to God and a custodian of its tradition. The people at UPC give thanks for the ministry of those who have led them to the present: to the late John Robertson, who presided at UPC for thirty years of ministry, and to those who come after, leading the faithful ever onward towards the Kingdom.