History of the First Presbyterian Church of Oxford at Hazen

The Following is excerpted from Snell’s ‘History of Sussex and Warren Counties’

OLD OXFORD CHURCH

This is one of the oldest churches in Presbytery of Newton. As early as 1739 there was occasional preaching in the bounds of the congregation. In 1744, Rev. James Campbell preached several times and baptized some children. The Rev. David Brain­erd, Indian missionary, and Rev. Daniel Lawrence also preached sundry times till the year 1749. At that time the congregation unanimously put them­selves under the care of the Presbytery of New Brunswick and made application for supplies, and have ever since considered themselves belonging to said Presbytery.

In 1755 the Rev. Thomas Lewis officiated as stated supply for some time. In 1764 three elders were chosen, and ordained by Rev. Benjamin Hait. About the same time a call was made out to the Rev. John Rosebrough to officiate in connection with Greenwich and Mansfield-Woodhouse, which call was accepted, and he continued as the stated minister for the space of five years, one-third of his time. This man should be remembered at this time for his services to his country.

After his leaving Oxford, several supplies officiated till 1775, when application was made to the Rev. John Dabow, who supplied Mount Bethel and Oxford, and afterwards accepted a call and continued for some time as pastor to serve the two churches alternately.

In 1777 the Rev. Philip Stockton accepted a call in connection with Knowlton and Mansfield-Woodhouse, and continued three or four years. From this time several supplies officiated until 1787, when the Rev. Asa Dunham became pastor of the churches of Oxford and Mount Bethel. He continued pastor till 1797. His salary from Oxford for one-half of his time was £50. The last two years of his ministry it was raised to £75. He was a native of Hopewell, N. J. He was three times married, his second wife being a daughter of Abraham Axford. In appearance, it is said, he was stout and tall, with a fair, full face and sandy hair. He was a man of pleasant address and a good preacher.

Some time between the years 1797 and 1802 the Rev. John Boyd was stated supply. As a preacher he was rather heavy. After several attempts to secure a pas­tor, the Rev. David Barclay was called, and became pastor of Oxford, Mount Bethel, and Knowlton from 1805 to 1812. He was eccentric and brought much trouble to himself by his oddities, but he was a good man, of good abilities, quick, earnest, and energetic in his motions and speech, of stout, athletic frame, and in temperament impetuous and imprudent.

In 1814, Rev. Garner A. Hunt supplied the pulpit for some time. In 1818, August 29th, Lemuel F. Leake received a call to become stated supply of the two congregations, Oxford and Harmony, and afterwards became pastor, continuing in this capacity till Oct 19,1825. He died in 1866, at Mount Nebo, Pa. From 1826 to 1828, Sylvester Graham was stated supply.

In 1829, when the Rev. Isaac N, Candee was called, his whole time was devoted to Oxford, to which all the Presbyterians and many if not all of the Method­ists of Belvidere belonged. Mr. Candee continued with Oxford Church as stated supply till the First Presbyterian Church of Belvidere was formed, when he became its pastor. Mr. Candee's ministry was the most successful that Oxford Church has ever enjoyed. He died June 19, 1874. He had admirable helpers ; his elders (John Clark, William Loder, Chapman Warner, John M. Sherrerd, and George B. King) were men of mark as well as of fervent piety.

When the First Presbyterian Church of Belvidere was formed, in 1824, Elders George B, King, William C. Morris, Chapman Warner, and John M. Sherrerd, and 37 members were dismissed to join the new organization. Deprived of so much strength, the mother-church felt unable by itself to support a pastor. They therefore again made an alliance with the Presbyterian Church of Harmony, and to­gether they called the Rev. Robert Love. He sup­plied the two pulpits February, 1836, to October, 1838. He died Oct. 9, 1838, lamented by all who knew him. His mortal remains sleep in Harmony Presbyterian burying-ground. A substantial me­morial, erected by these churches, marks his resting-place and the respect in which he was held by the people.

During the years 1839 to 1842, the Rev. John Carroll, now of Easton, Pa., was the pastor of Oxford and Harmony. They wisely resolved to have the next pastor all to themselves. Accordingly, they ex­tended a call to the Rev. James McWilliams, which was accepted, and he continued with them from Dec. 6, 1842, till November, 1853. He came here a young man, this church being his first charge. He was a very scholarly man, and had he been more selfish and less diffident he might have won more fame and glory for himself, but less honor to his Master. Next to Mr. Candee's ministry for success comes that of Mr. McWilliams. This earnest worker died Aug. 20, 1873, in the fifty-fourth year of his age.