The event celebrates St. Mary’s of the Lakes and Protestant Community Church recent designation on the State and National registries.
How did a small seasonal community established in 1928 end up with two churches on the National Register of Historic Places? It all began with Leon Todd’s vision to build a summer community in the Pine Barrens using only local cedar logs.
Early in the summer of 1928, religious services became a regular part of the weekly programs in Medford Lakes. The services including Sunday school were held in the Colony Club Pavilion. Both Roman Catholic and Protestant services were held during the summers until 1930 when each religious denomination determined to build side by side churches in the style of log cabins. The building are rustic in appearance and are built in a bucolic setting that offers a feeling of serenity and an invitation for reflection.
Plans to build a Roman Catholic Church (St. Mary’s of the Lakes) and a Protestant Church (the Protestant Community Church of Medford Lakes which is otherwise known as the “Cathedral of the Woods” according to its by-laws) were approved b y the Medford Lakes Colony Club in 1930. Funds were raised; on May 7, 1931 Mr. Leon Todd Sr. donated six lots for the two churches to be build on either side of Mohawk Trail.
Six weeks later, on Sunday, June 21, the Protestant Community Church was dedicated. St. Mary of the Lakes was dedicated in July 1931 and in 1963 sold to the Protestant Community Church and renamed Memorial Hall. In 2006 Memorial Hall was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The original cost of the building was $4,084.50. The architect was Ronald Senseman, a Medford Lakes resident, who at only 18 years of age, designed the church as his first big project. The sanctuary is constructed of full cedar logs taken from local swamps. The bark remains on the logs with mortar chinking on the interior and exterior. The logs are lapped and notched at the corners the full height of the walls. The logs continue up the gables end framing into rafters.
An early cooling system in the 1940’s consisted of two 1,000 blocks of ice delivered weekly and fans that blew air over the blocks of ice in galvanized metal chambers that were the duct work. In 1945 the roof was insulated and a heating system installed for year-round services. As well, the Todd family donated the window above the altar (which is a columbarium). Subsequently stained glass windows began to replace the original plain glass windows. The Art of Glass, Inc. crafted all of the stained glass windows. In 2016 the windows were refurbished by the same company. A narthex was added to the building in 1975.
In 1947 a reed organ and an electric carillon were put into place. A Hammond organ replaced the original in 1953. In 1977 a new nine rank 604 Moeller pipe organ was installed. This organ was refurbished in the spring of 2017. In 2006, a new steeple was built and a Schulmerich electronic carillon placed in it.
The carillon is reminiscent of the original bell that summoned folks to services. The carillon marks the hours of the day and plays liturgically appropriate music.
Today, Memorial Hall is a place of worship as well as host to community activities such as Scouts and the Pineland Players and AA. The Protestant Community Church is an inclusive nondenominational worship community. All are welcome!
To celebrate the two churches now being on the State and National registries, everyone is invited to an Open House on Sunday, October 29, from 1 to 4 pm. There will be light refreshments.
