History of Blue Anchor Grace Union United Methodist Church Settlers of Blue Anchor

    In 1866 Dr. George Haskell and others purchased land from the Dixons, Spaulings, Taylor and Townsend property to establish a seat for spiritualism. A college bearing his name was built by Dr. Haskell and was situated near the Blue Anchor Tavern next to the property of William Heggan.
    There were about 25 families in all who settled there at that time. Long before the Camden-Atlantic Railroad was built by Andrew K. Hay and others, this entire section was known by the name Ancora. The lines  extended as far west as the Waterford Road from the Blue Anchor Tavern at the top of the hill on the Berlin Road and as far north as Bates Mill.
    Informally some of the people used the name Blue Anchor, because the days of the stage coach lines made the Blue Anchor Tavern as one of the stopping places. This was the only efficient  means of travel in those days. In 1880 by the vote of the people, after much debate, Blue Anchor became an official name and the boundaries of Ancora became considerably less. After the death of Dr. George Haskell and a general disagreement as to the true policy of the community, depressing effects followed. The college was torn down and several families move away. Those who remained abandoned the idea of carrying out the original purpose. Several owners lose their properties through the Haskell Administration.
    The Dixons deeded seven acres of land for a community cemetery. The Blue Anchor Church has no cemetery of its own. In the early days most of the people buried their dead in their own  yards and preferably under the grape-vines. Nearly every land-owner had his own graveyard. Opposite the Garvey Machine Company which was once Garvey's Gas Station is the old graveyard of Blue Anchor. Some of the early settlers are buried there.
    About 1874 William Heggan settled here coming from the north of Ireland. His brother Alexander settled some time before in Waterford. The Heggan family is still quite prominent in the Vicinity. In about 1885 a family by the name of Henry Wood moved here. He had two daughters, Nettie and Emma and a son Frank. They settled at the east end of Blue Anchor and were quite interested in the spiritual welfare of the community.

The Wood Sisters

    In the year 1886 Nettie Wood and her sister Emma Wood began Sunday school work and were granted permission to use the old schoolhouse for that purpose.
    The new settlers were influenced by Methodism which began to develop at that time. The school was not strictly Methodist although most of the assistance came from that source. At Waterford, Winslow, Elm and Rodedale were local preachers and exhorters who volunteered their services to preach in the schoolhouse when occasion required. James Wilcox was class leader William Shoemaker was said to be the first preacher who preached to this little group.
    Dr. John S. Gaskill was District Superintendent of the Camden District of the New Jersey Conference and became interested in the work of the Wood sisters. The quarterly conferences were held at Winslow and the extent of their work was reported to these conferences.
    Mrs. Fannie Mowen was elected superintendent in 1887. About this time Mrs. Margaret Blatherwick settled here and became interested in the work and became a teacher. On August 26, 1888 the school was reorganized on a more efficient basis. The school was divided into six classes. The enrollment was 44 with an average attendance of 26. By March 1931 there were 104 on the roll with an average attendance of 91%. This was the highest attendance in the whole of the New Jersey Conference.

The Blue Anchor Church

    The Blue Anchor Church began in the Sunday school. In 1892 Miss Nettie Wood called a meeting for the purpose of organizing a church. This Society was called Grace Union Methodist     Episcopal Church because of the community spirit already witnessed in the general cause of Methodism. In 1896 Charles Blatherwick for the sum of  thirty five dollars deeded a one acre of land to the Trustees of the church. By raising funds and receiving gifts from various friends and sources, the corner stone was laid. The church Building was erected in 1897.
    The church was made part of a circuit consisting of Winslow and later Elm. It remained that way until 1988 when it separated from the three charge circuit to function as an individual church within the Methodist Conference.
    Many changes have been made throughout the years: installation of a bell, construction of an education building which is attached to the church, acquisition of land adjacent to the church property, erection of a parsonage and expansion of the sanctuary to accommodate a larger congregation.
    The Grace Union United Methodist Church has always been an active church involved in many activities. In the early days the organization of the Epworth League led to conducting various services. Through the years the church has established choirs, youth programs, Sunday school, Vacation Bible school, supports Missionary, Sponsors children through the Christian Children's Fund, provides financial aid to college students of the church etc.
    The church is proud of its Methodist heritage and sense of Community. It continually strives to attain and live the word of God.
    More detailed information concerning names, dates and mythology is available by looking at copies of some of the original documents in the church library.

Respectfully Church Historians 

Former and Present Pastors of the Grace Union United Methodist Church

• 1897 - 1899   RICHARD SMITH
• 1899 - 1900   CLAUD E. HARRISON
• 1900 - 1902   JOS. ELDRIGE
• 1902 - 1903   HARRY GRIM
• 1903 - 1904   J. W. VEAL
• 1904 - 1905   JOHN RICHARDSON
• 1905 - 1907   C. W. REYNOLDS
• 1907 - 1908   HOWARD AMER
• 1908 - 1910   H. G. HEINEMAN
• 1910 - 1911   W. H. K. ELTONHEAD
• 1911 - 1913   HERBERT BUGG
• 1913 - 1914   JOHN NAYLOR
• 1914 - 1915   GEORGE SOUTHWICK
• 1915 - 1916   DR. EUGENE M. COFFEE
• 1916 - 1917   WILEIFER JOHNSON
• 1917 - 1918   WALTER WOLF
• 1918 - 1921   WILLIAM BRADSHAW
• 1921 - 1923   H. V. BICE
• 1923 - 1925   H. E. WILLIAMS
• 1925 - 1928   B. F. RUDY
• 1928 - 1931   J. M. PUGH
• 1931 - 1934   ELWOOD HOEY
• 1934 - 1938   ISAIAH WILLIAMS
• 1938 - 1939   CHARLES JONES
• 1939 - 1940   NATHAN TRAINER
• 1940 - 1942   J. S. MCCALL
• 1942 - 1943   J. D. HUNTER
• 1943 - 1944   K. W. MELLINGER
• 1944 - 1945   H. R. THOMPSON
• 1945 - 1952   WILLIAM DEICHERT
• 1952 - 1954   JOHN ROBINSON
• 1954 - 1955   ALBERT E. HARTMAN
• 1955 - 1956   DONALD SCHALK
• 1956 - 1960   ARCHIE SHULL
• 1960 - 1964   WILLIAM ABRAMS
• 1964 - 1966   CHARLES HUNTINGTON
• 1966 - 1967   JOHN PAGE
• 1967 - 1969   WILLIAM HESS
• 1969 - 1971   KENNETH DAVIS
• 1971 - 1973   ROBERT TOMER
• 1973 - 1976   PAUL J. AMEY
• 1976 - 1978   BURKHEIMER
• 1978 - 1980   GLENN FERGUSON
• 1980 - 1984   LORIN OTT
• 1984 - 1993   EDWARD RUSK
• 1993 - 1994   JOSEPHJOHN PALMA
• 1994 - 1997   THOMAS WAGENSELLER
• 1997 - 1998   LINDA TIRICO
• 1998 - 1999   DR. MCELWEE
• 1999 - 2002   THOMAS A. WADAS
• 2002 - 2005   DR. THOMAS WHITE
• 2005 - ????   DAVID GOVERN