Original Sanctuary , Page 1
Abiding Presence Lutheran Church

Building Program Phase 1

The Original Sanctuary was easily recognized by its distinctive roof line. Each of the two classrooms could be further divided by big movable blackboards. The choir shared one of the classrooms. The Nave was 42 x 42 (foot). The interior rooms are not to scale. The door at the bottom of the image faces Route 31, Flemington to the left (north) and Trenton to the right (south), as we face the entrance.

Around 1965, the growing, mission congregation recognised a need to have its own building. The current meeting room at Laning Avenue school was too small and was inconvenient to use. Each Sunday, the altar and the other arrangements had to be set-up before services, and returned to storage after services. Sunday School teachers wanted classrooms where displays and posters could be set up and left during the week.

The first meeting of the Building Committee was held on October 5, 1965, at the home of the Committee Chair, Mr. Fred Harris. Pastor LeRoy Miltner reviewed the Statement of Purpose for the Committee.

"The Building Committee, as a committee of the Church Council, shall be charged with the responsibility of developing a Church Building Program, starting with the recommending of an architect, the determining of financial goals, and the recommending of appropriate financing goals, and the recommending of appropriate financing. It shall plan for and implement the construction of effective, functional, and worshipful church buildings. It is further charged with the interpretation of this program to the congregation, and the encouragement of their support. It shall submit progress reports and recommendations to the Church Council."

A lovely property was located in Ewing. The four acres, at the corner of Rockleigh Drive and State Route 31 (at that time, called State Route 69), was purchased for $20,500 for a down payment of $7,250.00 and a loan of $13,250.00 (from ??). Using a estimated construction cost of $15 per square foot (for the building only), Earl Fielding, Church Treasurer, suggested that a building of 4,000 square foot was reasonable.

After review of several candidates, the Building Committee selected the firm of Hassinger and Schwam, Architects, of Philadelphia Pennsylvania and Moorestown NJ, to prepare plans and specifications. The Carl F. Jacobelli Company, 1650 Pennington Road, Trenton New Jersey 08618, was selected as contractor for construction of a church building and other incidental work related to the Pennington Road property. (Pennington Road is the local name for Route 31.)

Note: Each of the floor plans in this Building History are drawn to the same scale. Thus, the Phase 1 outline appears as the same size in each of the other floor plans.