A Short History of Our Church

The Hungarian Presbyterian Church of Wharton, New Jersey was founded in 1904 to minister to recent immigrants in the Wharton area.

Many Hungarians were drawn to work at the region's center of iron mining, steel, railroad, and canal industries. Worship services were conducted in their native language.

Joseph Wharton, the owner of the local steel mill, benefactor of the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and namesake of the community, donated the land where our Church is now located.

In 1950, English language worship services were added to accomodate the original immigrants' children and grandchildren.

After the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, the Church was active in settling 61 refugee families into the Wharton area. Many became pillars of strength in the Church and community.

In 1964, our Church merged with the other Presbyterian Church in Wharton, the Luxemberg Presbyterian Church, to become the United Presbyterian Church of Wharton. This combination lasted until 1978, when both congregations decided to again spread the Word of our Lord separately.

Our Church today is composed of a combination of Hungarian immigrants, their American children and grandchildren, and the general population including recent Spanish speaking immigrants who adhere to Reformed theology.

Our Church is a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA) through the Newton Presbytery and is committed to the Confessing Church Movement within the Presbyterian Church (USA).