About
Learn more about FPC’s mission, core values, members of staff and the rich history of our church.
Our Mission
Shining God’s light by… Knowing Christ, Growing in His love, Going where He leads
FPC has six core values
Love
Respect
Spiritual Growth
Service & Mission
United by Faith
Stewardship
Our Staff
Rev. Chris Houtz
Pastor/Head of Staff
Chris comes from Woodbridge, NJ, where he and his wife, Tanya, have lived for the last 5 years with their four dogs, Minnie, Bellmore, Carl, and Meadow.
Valerie Shondel
Director of Music
Valerie Shondel has had a long and distinguished career as an organist, pianist and conductor in the New York City Area.
Amanda Lecuona
Youth Education Coordinator
Amanda has been an active member of the FPC congregation since her confirmation in 2014. She has been involved in many church programs including VBS, Sunday School,
Christine Brunner
Office Manager
Christine was born in New Jersey and is a resident of Denville, NJ. After completing business school, she gained extensive experience working within companies that range from a large publicly traded
Chris White
Building Manager / Head Sexton
Chris grew up in Caldwell and has a background in building management as well as a number of construction skills.
Celesta Silvera
Administrative Assistant
Celesta is a long time New Jersey resident. She is married with three children, and five grandchildren. She enjoys reading, cooking, and spending
Lauren Noack
Communications Coordinator
Lauren has been working at FPC since 2014 in several different capacities and currently enjoys her time working on church communications.
Kaitlyn Heun
Sunday Sexton
Kaitlyn was born and raised in Caldwell and has been an active full time member of the congregation since her confirmation in 2008.
Brittany Heun
Sunday Receptionist
Brittany Heun is the Sunday Morning Receptionist at the First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell, and previously held the position of Financial Secretary in 2017.
Kathleen Carlson
Director, Weekday Nursery School
Before stepping into her current role at the weekday nursery school, Kathleen was the teacher of the school’s Kindergarten Enrichment Program.
OUR CHURCH
Our History
The towering sanctuary of The First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell is an iconic landmark in the West Essex area with roots that began before the Revolutionary War.
The church’s history dates back to the mid-1700s when Caldwell was part of an unincorporated area known as Horseneck, which stretched from Fairfield to West Orange. At that time, traveling ministers visited Caldwell to conduct services, including Reverend James Caldwell, the Revolutionary soldier and pastor of the Elizabeth Presbyterian Church.
Worshippers wanted to form a church in 1779, but it took five years before the first meeting house was built, delayed because of a shortage of supplies and the Revolutionary War. The graves of 20 soldiers from the American Revolution are among those buried at the Old Burying Ground, used from 1788-1881, which is still located next to the church.
Work finally began on a church meeting house in 1782 – called The Old Parsonage – located along Bloomfield Avenue where St. Aloysius Church is now. The minister lived on the first floor and the second floor was used as the sanctuary. A church association was founded in 1784.
Three years later, Horseneck was renamed Caldwell, in honor of Rev. James Caldwell, and the church incorporated as “The First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell.” Its first ordained pastor was Rev. Stephen Grover.
In just a few years, the congregation outgrew the meeting house and a new church was constructed from 1792-1794, where the current church now stands. In those days, the wooden building had a fence to keep cows and horses off the church lawn. A stable and hitching posts were provided for the parishioners’ horses and buggies. The first service was held there on April 6, 1796.
Rev. richard cleveland was installed as the pastor in 1834
His son, Stephen Grover Cleveland, became President of the United States of America
Nearly 40 years later, in 1834, Rev. Richard Cleveland was installed as the pastor of the church and in 1837, his son was born and named Stephen Grover Cleveland, after the former pastor. That son became President Grover Cleveland, and the site of his birthplace is now a state historic site – next to St. Aloysius Church – and is still preserved in Caldwell.
On the day after Thanksgiving 1872, a fire destroyed the original church building and the congregation voted to rebuild a bigger, stronger church. In 1876, the current church – which is still in use today – was completed on the same site, made of stone to better withstand fire.
The church grew and modernized over the decades. A Parish House was built in 1922 where Sunday School and recreational activities were held and in 1958, the Parish House was torn down to make way for a new Christian Education wing, which houses the nursery school and gymnasium.
Still located at the heart of the Caldwell community, The First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell is over 240 years old – and continues to serve as a place of worship, fellowship, education, and service. The church is tied to the history of Essex County and the state of New Jersey – and remains a thriving congregation built on the foundation laid by church ancestors, while ready to meet the needs of the future.
Located on the main floor at FPC is our Heritage and Art Gallery which displays our historic documents and a collection of 60 biblical paintings.
FPC Nursery School
Prospect Hill Cemetery
We cordially invite you to visit Prospect Hill Cemetery, located 1/2 mile west of the church on Westville Avenue between Thomas Street and Prospect Street in Caldwell.
We are a “traditional” non-profit cemetery association, employing no sales staff, and offer full size burial plots, cremation plots, and cremorial plots. We offer a 20% discount on all lot purchases to members in good standing of The First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell.
Please direct any inquiries to David Hicock, Superintendent at 973-228-4410. The cemetery office is located in the church, one floor below the main office (on the Nursery School Level).