A History of Welcome and Service
What is now St. Peter’s Church was formed as All Saints’ in 1893 and first met in the old Essex Fells train station. The small congregation built the current chapel in 1896, and the parish was renamed St Peter’s. The chapel was expanded in 1906, the first parish hall was built in 1923, and the current nave was built in 1956. The Piel Building was completed in 1980 and houses the Upper Room as well as classrooms. The St. Peter's Nursery School was established in 1972. Our parish continues to serve the wider community of West Essex, drawing people from Essex Fells, the Caldwells, Verona, Cedar Grove, West Orange, Wayne, Livingston, and beyond. In addition to a thriving liturgical life, the parish serves the community in many ways through outreach to the church, the Diocese, and the world.
While rooted in the Anglican/Episcopal tradition, the parish has always welcomed people from many faith traditions. We welcome families, singles, LGBTQ+ individuals and couples, spiritual seekers and people of all races.
As Anglicans, we prize inquiring minds and spiritual seeking. We seek to balance scripture and reason, tradition and innovation. Our worship is a modern expression of ancient tradition, grounded in Word and Sacrament.
Music has played an important role at St. Peter’s since we first opened our doors in 1896, and a choir of men and boys first sang for Easter services in 1904. Today we offer choral programs embracing singers and instrumentalists from all ages, providing a rich offering of music for our worship and for the community. We offer many musical events throughout the year in our historic church as a gift of beauty and refreshment to all.
Our ministry to families with children includes a vibrant Sunday School, as well as youth programs for teens in Junior and Senior High School. Adult Christian Formation often includes an adult forum between the morning services. Forums and workshops on life-oriented topics apply faith to today’s world.
From the first services in the old Essex Fells train station, to the building of the simple English-style parish church, to the large Norman-style church, St. Peter’s serves as a spiritual home for all. The chapel was renamed “All Saints” in 2024 in honor of our forebears’ original commitment to building an Episcopal community in Essex Fells and the congregation’s original name.
We put our faith into action to support Christine’s Kitchen, North Porch ministry to women and infants, St. Paul’s in Paterson’s Men Shelter, and more. Our David St. George Outreach Committee provides grants for a wide variety of ministries throughout northern New Jersey. Our facilities house not only worship services and activities for the greater community, but our Nursery School, OpShop, and twelve-step groups including AA. Our annual Street Fair welcomes hundreds to our grounds for relaxing, tech-free, old-fashioned community fun! Everyone is welcome here.
While rooted in the Anglican/Episcopal tradition, the parish has always welcomed people from many faith traditions. We welcome families, singles, LGBTQ+ individuals and couples, spiritual seekers and people of all races.
As Anglicans, we prize inquiring minds and spiritual seeking. We seek to balance scripture and reason, tradition and innovation. Our worship is a modern expression of ancient tradition, grounded in Word and Sacrament.
Music has played an important role at St. Peter’s since we first opened our doors in 1896, and a choir of men and boys first sang for Easter services in 1904. Today we offer choral programs embracing singers and instrumentalists from all ages, providing a rich offering of music for our worship and for the community. We offer many musical events throughout the year in our historic church as a gift of beauty and refreshment to all.
Our ministry to families with children includes a vibrant Sunday School, as well as youth programs for teens in Junior and Senior High School. Adult Christian Formation often includes an adult forum between the morning services. Forums and workshops on life-oriented topics apply faith to today’s world.
From the first services in the old Essex Fells train station, to the building of the simple English-style parish church, to the large Norman-style church, St. Peter’s serves as a spiritual home for all. The chapel was renamed “All Saints” in 2024 in honor of our forebears’ original commitment to building an Episcopal community in Essex Fells and the congregation’s original name.
We put our faith into action to support Christine’s Kitchen, North Porch ministry to women and infants, St. Paul’s in Paterson’s Men Shelter, and more. Our David St. George Outreach Committee provides grants for a wide variety of ministries throughout northern New Jersey. Our facilities house not only worship services and activities for the greater community, but our Nursery School, OpShop, and twelve-step groups including AA. Our annual Street Fair welcomes hundreds to our grounds for relaxing, tech-free, old-fashioned community fun! Everyone is welcome here.
