History

The roots of this parish family stretch back for more than a century.  This Church, named in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, was brought about by the merger of St. Andrew's church, Plainfield, and Holy Innocents' Church, Dunellen, on November 9, 1980.

The Church of the Holy Innocents was established by a devoted layman, Mr. Benjamin Smith, who bought and gave the Methodist church building, built in 1866, to the Diocese of New Jersey in memory of his deceased daughter.  This gift is reflected in the beautiful stained glass window at the narthex entrance.  This first building was consecrated by Bishop Scarborough on October 6, 1881.  In later years the church added two parish halls, one in 1931 and a second in 1961.  Its history includes both a time when this congregation reached full parish status and a time in the mid nineteen seventies when it was almost closed.

St. Andrew's Church began as The Church of the Heavenly Rest when a leading layman, Mr. Charles Lewis, established a mission in Evona, now part of Plainfield, on February 9, 1879.  Bishop Scarborough consecrated this new church on April 12, 1883.  In October of 1920 the congregation incorporated as St. Andrew's Church.  The Rev. Corlandt Mallery was instituted as the first rector on St. Andrew's Day, November 30, 1920.  Father Mallery served as rector until 1946.  The window over the altar recognizes the devotion of the Mallery family.

St. Francis' first vicar, The Rev. Mark Chattin, also served as Priest-in-Charge of both former congregations.  A vicarage was completed in 1984 and on March 4, 1990, the new church facility was consecrated by Bishop Belshaw.  The altar, baptismal font and stained glass windows are treasures from the past just as the new bricks and faces of all ages are the promise of the future.