MANCHESTER – The Whiting Bible Church recently celebrated its 60th anniversary but amid all the balloons, cake, singing and speeches, the event also served as a reunion of those who helped build the legacy of that house of worship.
A special service was held at the church led by Reverend David Rittinger – who became the fulltime pastor in 1992 -and Chaplain Craig and Angel MacReynolds who sang. A slide show prepared by Reverend Rittinger’s wife Wilma provided a glimpse of the church’s past activities and members between the years of 1964 and 2024.
“I’m in my 33rd (year). When my wife and I came here, we were very young,” Pastor Rittinger said with a laugh. “We have four kids and there is some great history here.”
“The church goes back to 1874,” Wilma Rittinger said. In 1874, Presbyterians built the brick chapel that now serves as a library. This chapel was then sold to the Methodists in 1904 and the communion table and some chairs from the original building are still used.
Reverend David Rittinger and his wife Wilma stand in front of a billboard filled with photos and news articles featuring the church from past activities. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
The Whiting Methodist Church was pastored by circuit preachers throughout the years and the Lakehurst Methodist Church was also on the same circuit.
The church bought the school building next door from the Board of Education to be used for Sunday school. This school building was built in 1870 as one-room schoolhouse known as the Franklin School House. A second room was added in 1909 and during the depression years a lunch room was added in the back of the building.
Due to theological and doctrinal issues the entire membership withdrew from the Methodist Church in Whiting and incorporated and started the Whiting Church. The church and Sunday School buildings were bought back from the Methodist Conference. Pastor Bill Raws was asked to become the acting pastor and the Whiting Church was dedicated in the original red bricked chapel with just over a dozen members on February 28, 1965.
With the continued growth seen in the senior citizen villages being constructed, a second morning service began and a new sanctuary was built and dedicated in 1973. The name of the church was changed to Whiting Bible Church in 1977 and a new wing was built and dedicated in 1992-1993 for more Sunday School space. In 1996 the Chapel was renovated to be used as a church library and meeting room.
The church purchased the house and acreage in 1998 from the estate of Erma Morris. The old Morris house has been used as a parsonage and most of the land has been held underneath a “Green Acres” designation. A land swap was required with the town in order to consolidate land boundaries.
An old photograph of the 1874 christening of the red brick chapel shows some of the early parishioners of what would later become the Whiting Bible Church. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
Renovations of the Youth House, the old Sunday School/school building started in 2016. The two-phase building projects included repairs of the foundation, and a complete updating of the interiors of the front entryway and two large rooms.
The church continues to offer Sunday School classes for all ages, youth group, prayer meetings, men and women’s weekly Bible studies and two Sunday morning worship services. During the pandemic in March 2020, the church added an online livestream service.
Raws served as acting pastor in a part-time capacity from 1964 until he died in 2008 and a portrait of him hangs in a prominent spot. The church’s first full-time pastor was Reverend Robert Ross who served from 1976 to 1978.
A portrait and plaque of Whiting Bible Church’s first pastor, Bill Raws. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
The church historian filled some tables with photo scrap books that feature not only photographs but some newspaper articles of past activities. “We have newspaper clippings from 1876,” Wilma Rittinger said.
While Manchester Mayor Robert Arace may be headed to fill an Ocean County Board of Commissioners seat, he looked very comfortable standing at the altar as he spoke to members of the parish and read a proclamation that he presented to the church on their milestone birthday.
Manchester Mayor Robert Arace speaks to parishioners of the Whiting Bible Church during a special service held in honor of the church’s 60th anniversary. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
“For six decades this church has stood as a beacon of faith and fellowship. A sanctuary where we come not only to worship but as a family bound by love of Christ. Whiting Bible Church has grown deep roots within this community changing countless lives through spiritual guidance and unwavering support,” the mayor said.
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