Morris County Celebrates Restoration of Mount Olive Baptist Church

Published on June 10, 2025

More Than $1.1 Million in County Preservation Grants Back Two-Decade Restoration

Morris County joined Mount Olive Township this weekend to celebrate the completed restoration of the historic Mount Olive Baptist Church, a project supported by more than $1.1 million in grants from the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund over the past two decades.

Commissioner John Krickus joined Mayor Joe Nicastro, Asm. Mike Inganamort, Councilman John Mania, the Rev. Neil Lines, and members of the Mount Olive Historical Society for a dedication ceremony this past Saturday, where he presented a Morris County Historic Preservation plaque marking the culmination of the restoration effort.

“I am honored to present this plaque on behalf of Morris County for a project more than 20 years in the making. The structure’s restoration reflects the value we place on heritage and community, and we’re proud to have supported every major phase of its renewal,” said Commissioner Krickus.

The church is a contributing resource in the Mount Olive Village Historic District, which is listed on both the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places.

The 1855 stone church is the third house of worship to stand on the site since the Mount Olive congregation’s founding in 1753. It is associated with the settlement of the area before the Revolutionary War and the emergence of the village of Mount Olive from that time through the middle of the 19th century.

Originally established as a branch of the Church of Morristown, the congregation evolved through multiple names and denominations -- first known as Roxbury Church, later as Schooley’s Mountain Church, and officially designated Mount Olive Baptist Church in 1890.

The site’s early history began in 1768, when James Heaton donated an acre of land for a meetinghouse, schoolhouse and burial ground. A second building was erected in 1809 and shared by Baptist and Presbyterian congregations.

In 1855, the Baptist community constructed the current church, which underwent major renovations in 1870 and 1895, including the installation of a tin ceiling, a new roof and a rebuilt pulpit. A storm in 1950 destroyed the steeple, which was never replaced. The building ceased regular worship use in the late 1960s and later served community groups, including local Boy Scout troops.

Although worship services moved to a newer building in the 1980s, the original church remained a treasured piece of the township’s heritage.

“The Mount Olive Baptist Church’s history is a testament to the resilience, faith and dedication of our community,” said Mayor Nicastro, who presented a proclamation during the ceremony.

Mount Olive Township acquired the building and adjacent cemetery in 2003 and, in partnership with the Mount Olive Historical Society, launched a long-term effort to restore the site. The work was supported by multiple county preservation grants and private donations, including $25,000 from Rev. Lyons, who has served as pastor of the congregation since 1995.

Restoration efforts funded through the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund totaled $1,102,176. The work included roof and steeple repairs, window and stucco restoration, front step reconstruction, mechanical and electrical upgrades, interior finishes and the installation of an accessible restroom. A rare trompe l’oeil ceiling cloth from the 1870s -- an uncommon example of 19th-century interior decorative painting in New Jersey churches -- was also uncovered and preserved.

Since the inception of the Historic Preservation Trust Fund in 2003, Morris County has awarded more than $54 million in preservation grants to support 129 historic sites countywide.

The county’s historic preservation plaque, originally awarded in 2013, was formally rededicated at Saturday’s event.

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Photo 1: The historic Mount Olive Baptist Church on Mt. Olive Road.

Photo 2: Mount Olive Historian Thea Dunkle, Mount Olive Township Administrator Andrew Tatarenko, Mount Olive Councilman John Mania, Mount Olive Mayor Joe Nicastro, Asm. Mike Inganamort and Morris County Commissioner John Krickus.