Prepared by Dr. Neil Chadwick

By 1951, a new church appeared in town. This was different from the other traditional churches because it was located in a house that looked like a house. Nevertheless, it was a house of worship. This three-story house with a mansard roof was located at the corner of Ames Boulevard (Route 94) and Orchard Street on land now occupied by the parking lot of The First Union Bank. The church was known as Hamburg Assembly of God. The sanctuary occupied the left side of the building on the first floor. The minister's apartment was on the right and consisted of two floors. There were two other apartments in the building on the second and third floors of this large old house. At one point this same building was used by the Episcopalians for Sunday School. 

Hamburg Assembly of God Church has its roots in the 1940's when a small group of Christian believers met in the home of Alice Anderson (Helen H. Wurst, unpublished church data collection, 1976). What began as a home prayer meeting expanded and the group rented a space in what was the old location of Herbie's Furniture. Herbie's Furniture first located there in 1946 and later built a new building across the street (Sussex County Deeds 422-197). The original Herbie's store in Hamburg is on Route 23 North and is part of the site, which has been recently renovated by Cartoon Properties. 

The first minister at Hamburg Assembly of God was Rev. Elmer Lindale. One of the founding members and a board member for many years was the late Robert J. Ortt. This church was in its infancy but got off to a good start with such a fine and dedicated pastor and strong Christian members such as Mr. Ortt. Rev. Lindale and his wife and children lived in the apartment in the same building as the church. 

Rev. Lindale was followed by a young pastor just out of school who brought his bride to their first home in Hamburg. The second pastor was the Rev. Gerritt Kenyon and his wife Anita. Rev. Kenyon's wife grew up in China as the daughter of a missionary. In the summer she could be seen in the back yard wearing her authentic pointed Chinese straw hat. The Kenyons eventually had two sons, Howard and Wesley, who were born during their time in Hamburg [a third child came after they left Hamburg]. The Kenyons were fine young Christians who worked hard to build the church. 

The Hamburg Assembly of God had a large yard. In summer a tent was set up and revival meetings held every night for a week or two. The services usually lasted a couple of hours and the music could be heard all over downtown Hamburg. As the hour grew late the congregation grew more fervent; loud "amens" could be heard echoing down the block. By day the tent was used to conduct the Vacation Bible School which lasted for a two-week period. Bible School always seemed to be well attended by children from the Hamburg community as well as from the church. 

When Rev. Kenyon first came to Hamburg he drove a maroon Studebaker--one of the last in Hamburg. In 1956 he became the owner of a new black and white Chevrolet and the Studebaker, now a classic car was never seen again around Hamburg. It was during the pastorate of Rev. Kenyon that the Assembly had its first bus. Unfortunately, the bus was old and not too reliable and sometimes failed to get the group to a church picnic or some such affair. The great spirit and evangelistic zeal of the congregation is admirable. The Assembly was always reaching to expand the number in His fold. 

The Hamburg Assembly of God incorporated under this name on April 5, 1957 (Sussex County Incorporations H-144). The pastor was Rev. Gerritt W. Kenyon. Trustees were: Alberta Vealey, Robert Ortt, and Mrs. Fred Sanders. This official incorporation created a church in a legal sense and empowered it to own property. In 1958 the Hamburg Assembly of God Church bought the building at the corner of Ames Boulevard and Orchard Street (Sussex County Deeds 541-192). The incorporation was a sign of strength that was to build over the succeeding years. 

When the Kenyons moved on to another church field, the Piedmont family followed. After Rev. Piedmont, who was bi-vocational, came Rev. Joseph Brown and his family. Rev. Brown was the last of the Assembly of God ministers to live in the old house at the corner of Orchard Street and Ames Boulevard. Rev. Joseph Brown was also bi-vocational and worked at the Hamburg Hardware Store. The church expanded its use to the third floor of the house which was formerly a rented apartment referred to by some of the natives as “Sky Parlor.” As the church grew more space was required. The property was sold to Hardyston National Bank on June 12, 1962 (Sussex County Deeds 730-537). The building was torn down to make way for a bank expansion and parking area. Land was purchased at the opposite end of Orchard Street and a new church building program was undertaken. 

Rev. Brown was involved in this building program and helped to build the church in a literal sense as well as spiritually. Volunteers worked on the building, which was constructed from wood taken out of another church building. At first, the minister lived in what later became church school space. Rev. Brown was the first pastor to occupy the pulpit at the new church and his was the first family to live at the new location now known as 12 Edsall Street. Again this tireless worker for the Lord began a new enterprise with a lot of faith and limited funds. 

After the Browns left Hamburg, they have been known to return to visit some friends they made here years ago. Several other pastors followed and the church grew and expanded at its new location. 

In recent years one of the longest and most prosperous pastorates was that of Rev. David C. Milley who became pastor on January 1, 1966. Membership in 1976 was reported to be 108 (Helen Wurst, unpublished church data collection, 1976). Four building programs were undertaken during his pastorate. Among these were the manse built in 1968 and the present sanctuary in 1974 (Wurst). The Hamburg Assembly of God acquired additional land to add parking to the site in 1975 (Sussex County Deeds 960-746). 

Hamburg Assembly of God acquired ownership of the historic Merriam Home in Newton, New Jersey, in 1972 which was being used as a retirement home for Presbyterian ministers. The national historic landmark was purchased for $86,000 (“Merriam Home Sale Approved, “ New Jersey Herald, 19 Dec. 1971). The church renovated its bathrooms and kitchen. The Assembly of God church operated the Merriam Home as a non-sectarian retirement home until 1986 when it was sold to its present owners (Patricia Palmer and Robert Longcore, “The Henry W. Merriam House, “ Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council Program, 11 May 1996). The Merriam House continues to be a retirement home. The Merriam House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the finest examples of Victorian architecture in the state (Palmer and Longcore). 

In 1988 the name of the church was legally changed from Hamburg Assembly of God to Crossroads Assembly of God. Today Crossroads Assembly of God, located at 12 Edsall Street, has grown to what seems to be the largest church in Hamburg by membership and sanctuary seating capacity. The congregation is drawn from the area surrounding Hamburg as well as from the town of Hamburg. 

(Written by Marrion E. Wood in "All About Hamburg, a History of Hamburg, New Jersey'' - p.282-285)