[NorthJersey.com] Saint Thomas Episcopal Church, located at 307 Route 94 in Vernon, is permanently closing. The last official service will be held on Oct. 30, at 3 p.m.
The original St. Thomas’ Church was built in 1847, for $1,500. It is the oldest church building in Vernon. That building closed in 1971, and later housed the Vernon historical society. The Church reopened in 1981, and was re-dedicated in 1983.
"For those of us who have been here since the beginning, it’s very sad," said Nancy Wiedbrauk.
Wiedbrauk, a 25-year Vernon resident, who now lives in a retirement community in Franklin, still travels to St. Thomas for church services.
"At its height, over one-hundred families worshiped here," Wiedbrauk reminisced. "During the holidays, the pews would be filled." She attributed the decline of the Church to demographic shifts in the population.
