St. Bernard's Episcopal Church has stood on Claremont Road in Bernardsville, New Jersey, since its parish was founded on October 22, 1896. Built in the late Victorian Gothic style by the prestigious New York firm of Le Brun & Sons, the church is known throughout the Somerset Hills for its steeply pitched slate roof, square stone tower, and an interior filled with stained glass by the English designer Charles Eamer Kempe. As one of the five historic Conover Parishes that grew up around the second rector, the Rev. Thomas Anderson Conover, St. Bernard's remains a quiet center of Anglican worship, music, and community service.
A Gothic Revival Sanctuary from 1898
St. Bernard's congregation first gathered on October 22, 1896, when subscribers to finance a new parish, trustees to run it, and a building committee to build a church met in Bernardsville. The Episcopal Church had been slow to take hold in the Somerset Hills, which had been a stronghold of Calvinism since the eighteenth century. The nearest Episcopal mission, St. Mark's in Basking Ridge, had been established by St. Peter's Church in Morristown in the 1850s, but by the 1890s great estates were appearing on the Bernardsville mountain and the need for a closer chapel was clear.
Within a year, Le Brun & Sons had designed the building, the cornerstone was laid, and the Rev. J.C. Hall, rector of St. Mark's, left that parish to become Saint Bernard's first rector. On June 29, 1898 the church was formally opened, and on November 3, 1898 it was consecrated by the Bishop of New Jersey.
The architecture reflects the prosperity and Anglophilia of late-Victorian America, when the simplicity of New England wooden churches was giving way to Gothic and Baroque splendor. A steeply pitched slate roof, pointed and arched stained glass windows, and stone masonry combine with decorative interior finishes in wood, mosaics, marble, molded plaster, and Cahn stone. A small puzzle in the building's history remains: parish records indicate that two bays were added in 1905, yet the masonry and crawl space beneath the church show no trace of a shorter original.
The Kempe Stained Glass
St. Bernard's is distinctive as one of the few churches in the world where nearly the entire stained glass program was planned by a single studio. The English designer Charles Eamer Kempe (1837-1907) was a leading figure in the high church movement of Victorian Anglicanism, and his windows at St. Bernard's reflect a deeply considered theological scheme.
The plan was set out in 1912 by the church's original trustees, who formed a Committee on Windows and wrote to Kempe and Company that the windows on the south side of the nave would represent the events of the Life of our Lord up to His Passion, that the chancel would represent scenes of our Lord's Passion and resurrection, and that the windows on the north side would represent the goodly fellowship of the prophets taking their vision from the west window of the Prophet of Galilee in the Sermon on the Mount. When the original entrance became the baptistery, Kempe added glass on the childhood of Jesus and his mother, and a magnificent central window of the resurrected Lord with the souls of children in heaven playing music.
Worship in the Anglican Tradition
Each Sunday at 11 am, the congregation gathers for Holy Eucharist, Rite II, in the language and rhythm of The Book of Common Prayer (1979). Music is drawn from The Hymnal 1982 and the wider English choral tradition. Everyone in attendance is invited and welcome to receive Holy Communion.
The parish follows the full Christian Year. Advent begins on the first Sunday of December with the traditional Advent Wreath Lighting, and during coffee hour parishioners are invited to make their own wreaths to take home. Christmas Eve brings three Festal Eucharists: at 4 pm and 8 pm at St. Bernard's, with another at 6 pm at the affiliated Church of St. John on the Mountain. Holy Week and Easter are marked with the Blessing of the Palms, the reading of the Passion Gospel, the Easter Vigil, and Festal Eucharists. A Sunday in September after Labor Day marks the return of the choir and the rallying of parishioners for the various missions of the church.
At the heart of the parish's life is a four-fold calling drawn from its mission statement: to seek to know God as Creator more fully through spiritual journeys and the beauty of the world around us; to serve as followers of Christ the needs of our fellow human beings and all life on the planet; to live in the power of the Holy Spirit and in joyful wonder at God's presence in all of the created order; and to love others as God has loved us in Christ, and to love the whole Creation for which he lived and died.
Families with young children (infants and up) are welcome at the monthly JOY! Service, held on the third Sunday of the month at 9 am from September through June. The twenty-five-minute service welcomes children into the liturgical tradition in informal, participatory ways. Refreshments follow the 11 am service in the Parish Hall from September through June, and adult and children's Christian Formation is offered through various series during the year. The 11 am service is available via Zoom.
Music and the Parish Choir
Music has long been a central facet of worship at St. Bernard's. The Parish Choir sings each Sunday from September through June and for special occasions throughout the year, with a repertoire that blends traditional and modern music rooted in the Anglican choral tradition. The choir is composed of professional and volunteer choristers and is well known in the area for the quality of its music. Membership is by audition only.
The music program is led by Tyler Weakland, Interim Director of Music and Organist. A teacher, pianist, organist, conductor, composer, and vocal coach, Mr. Weakland is the Choral Director and Performing Arts Department Chair at Ranney School and former Associate Conductor of the GRAMMY award-winning Westminster Symphonic Choir. He is also the Music Director of the Princeton Boychoir at Westrick Music Academy.
An Affiliation with St. John on the Mountain
On October 1, 2023, St. Bernard's and the Church of St. John on the Mountain became affiliated, sharing the part-time ministry of the Rev. Elizabeth Rauen Sciaino. Pastor Beth serves as Rector of St. Bernard's and as Priest-in-Charge at St. John on the Mountain, splitting her time between the two parishes. The two congregations share a vision of serving as role models to the example and teachings of Jesus Christ; working together, learning together, and supporting each other through communication, cooperation, and education; and sharing best practices in worship, governance, stewardship, volunteerism, membership, development, and spiritual growth.
At St. John on the Mountain, Rite I Holy Eucharist is celebrated at 7:45 am in the Chapel, and Rite II Holy Eucharist at 9 am in the Sanctuary with the St. John's Choir (on every third Sunday, Rite II is held in the Chapel). The 9 am service at St. John's is livestreamed.
Pastoral Care and the Sacraments
St. Bernard's offers the full sacramental life of the Episcopal Church. Baptisms are offered to children of all ages and to adults who have not been previously baptized, taking place in services of Holy Eucharist in all seasons of the Church Year except Advent and Lent. The most desirable occasions are at the Great Vigil of Easter, Pentecost Sunday, All Saints' Sunday, and the First Sunday after the Epiphany. Parents of children to be baptized meet with the clergy for one or two preparation sessions in advance.
Weddings are welcomed from all couples who wish to be married in the Episcopal Church. The canons of the church require that at least one member of the couple be baptized, and pre-marital counseling with the priest is required. The Witnessing and Blessing of a Marriage has been approved for same-sex marriages, and a gender-neutral version of the BCP liturgy is also available.
For those who are homebound or hospitalized, Pastor Beth, Lay Eucharistic Visitors, or the Rev. Deacon Karen Burke-Lewis are available to bring Holy Communion and pastoral support. Pastoral care is offered to parishioners and friends of the parish, whether or not they are members or people of faith. Pastor Beth is in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
Deacon in the World
The Rev. Deacon Karen Burke-Lewis is an ordained deacon whose ministry happens outside the walls of the church and in the world. She has been specifically endorsed to minister to the sick, the weak, the lonely, and the dying, and has served as a chaplain for more than twenty-five years in healthcare settings. Karen began her ministry by caring for those with physical and mental disabilities, served as coordinator for the Coalition for Inclusive Ministries through the Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and spent more than ten years at Kessler Institute working with those who had suffered traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury, co-publishing the booklet Brain Injury: When the Call Comes. She later served as hospice chaplain for the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills and, beginning in January 2020, as Palliative Care Chaplain at Chilton Medical Center. Karen is a Board-Certified Chaplain and holds a Master of Theological Studies from Drew University and a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary.
Children, Acolytes, and the Christmas Pageant
St. Bernard's takes seriously the spiritual formation of its children and the active participation of the laity in worship. Children and youth serve at the altar through the Acolyte Corps, with young people from age ten through college age welcomed. Acolytes wear albs, rope cinctures, and crosses, and serve at every part of the liturgy: the Crucifer leads the procession bearing the celebrant's cross; two Torch Bearers carry the candles; the Gospel Bearer presents the Gospel Book; and one Acolyte is designated to serve at the altar with the celebrant.
The annual Christmas Pageant, held in December, invites all children and youth from Pre-K through 12th grade and adults to participate. The pageant is a beloved part of the Advent and Christmas season.
Chalicists (Chalice Bearers) are lay people trained by the clergy and licensed by the Diocese to share the Eucharistic cup. Ushers greet worshippers and provide bulletins, distribute leaflets, and gather the gifts of the people. Lectors read from the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament, using the New Revised Standard Version of the Holy Bible. The Altar Guild cares for altar linens, clerical vestments, hangings, banners, veils, burses, silver plate, and vestments; the Flower Guild and Prayer Shawl ministry round out the lay ministry of the parish.
Outreach in the Wider Community
When the parish renews its Baptismal Covenant, it promises to seek and serve Christ in all persons, to strive for justice and peace among all people, and to respect the dignity of every human being. Outreach is a primary way St. Bernard's lives out the Good News of God in Christ.
The church runs an ongoing food drive for the Food Bank Network of Somerset County, with non-perishable items collected in a marked tote outside the church. Current urgent needs include sizes 4 to 7 diapers, baby formula, cat food, and feminine products. Parishioners are also encouraged to bring one item a week from a list of nonperishable food items (milk boxes, applesauce cups, oatmeal packs, granola bars, canned tuna, juice boxes, and more) for the weekend backpack program that feeds hungry children in Somerset County.
The Homework Helpers Program offers free homework help and academic support to students in grades K through 8 every Wednesday from 3 to 5 pm when the Somerset Hills School District is in session. The program is a free Somerset County YMCA program hosted and run by St. Bernard's in the Parish House, with volunteer adult tutors and high school student volunteers. Snacks are provided, and Spanish-language assistance is available.
St. Bernard's also hosts two Alcoholics Anonymous recovery groups in the Parish House, meeting on Tuesday evenings at 8 pm and Saturday evenings at 6 pm.
Three regional services that grew out of St. Bernard's parish over the years still flourish today: the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills, Gill St. Bernard's School, and the Career Forum of the YMCA. The parish also has a long-standing commitment to Grace's Kitchen, a soup kitchen hosted by Grace Episcopal Church in Plainfield.
God's Giving Garden
The Conover Collaborative Community Garden opened on Sunday, April 19, 2015, in partnership with two other Conover Episcopal Churches: St. Mark's in Basking Ridge and St. John on the Mountain. The smaller Bernardsville plot at St. Bernard's produces food for a local Bernardsville food pantry, while the larger garden at the Ross Farm, 135 North Maple Avenue in Basking Ridge, is shared with Somerset County and the Friends of Boudinot-Southard-Ross, the private board developing and rejuvenating the historic farm. Together the gardens have produced well over a ton of fresh vegetables and herbs for Somerset County food bank families.
The Community Fund
Since its beginning in September 2000, the St. Bernard's Community Fund has provided emergency financial assistance to residents of the greater Somerset Hills area. Grants are given on a one-time basis for a specific need and are made through credible sponsors such as clergy, schools, social workers, and police on behalf of an individual or family. Over the years, the Fund has helped with rents, gift cards for a family whose home was destroyed by fire, food supplements for a child whose family was burdened by large medical bills, and a down payment for an apartment for a single mother working to better the living circumstances for her family.
GreenFaith Certification
In October 2015, St. Bernard's was awarded GreenFaith Certification, the country's only interfaith environmental certification program for houses of worship, after fulfilling a series of actions and commitments under the rigorous two-year program. The parish was one of some seventy faith-based organizations to have completed the program at that time.
Projects included hosting two summer interfaith vacation camps for children focused on rivers in scriptures and biodiversity; conducting an energy audit of buildings and adjusting heat and cooling settings; replacing all lights with energy-efficient LED lights; communicating eco-tips on heating, transportation, fuel consumption, recycling, and water usage; taking a leadership role in the Bernardsville community garden; committing to purchasing only Energy Star appliances; hosting a public showing and discussion of the film Journey of the Universe; participating in the Water Shield program; and leading services on environmental issues through successive Creation Seasons.
The Rector and Her Ministry
The Rev. Beth Rauen Sciaino joined the parish of St. Bernard's in November 2015 and was elected by the Vestry as the parish's ninth Rector in its 120-year history on June 28, 2020, transitioning from Priest-in-Charge to Rector during online services. The Right Rev. William H. (Chip) Stokes, the twelfth Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey, spoke at the service by video, and the Rev. Angelo Wildgoose, Rector of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Plainfield and Dean of the Watchung Convocation, served as the Bishop's representative.
Pastor Beth is a certified Coach in the Diocese of New Jersey, chairs the Development Council for Cross Roads Camp and Retreat Center (a shared Lutheran and Episcopal camp in northern Hunterdon County), and serves on the Steering Committee of the Interfaith Community Action Network of greater Somerset County. She earned a Master of Divinity from Drew Theological School in Madison and a B.A. in Religion from Wesleyan University.
Under Pastor Beth's leadership, the parish transitioned from ownership of the 1912 original Parish House, a historic building designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh that was in need of a complete and costly renovation. The new, smaller, and more accessible Parish House opened in October 2018 and houses the offices, meeting, and fellowship space for the parish in a much more convenient location.
St. Bernard's Cemetery on Washington Avenue
St. Bernard's Cemetery, founded in 1902 and managed by the parish, sits on thirteen acres of beautifully wooded and rolling hills at 60 Washington Avenue, about a mile from the church. It was consecrated on July 2, 1903 by the Right Rev. John Scarborough, Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey. The land was originally donated by Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Stevens, with additional acreage given by their daughter, Mrs. Mary Stevens Baird.
The cemetery is the final resting place for some of the area's most prestigious original gentry, including the Stevens, Pyne, Kean, Frelinghuysen, Pierrepont, Blair, and Ballantine families. Originally for the Christian burial of members of St. Bernard's Episcopal Church, it now welcomes burials from all walks of life and religions. Plots are available to the public for purchase.
At the entrance is the gate house cottage, housing the cemetery office and a residential rental property alongside a parking area, and adjacent is a Memorial Garden that offers a refuge for quiet meditation and a place where cremated remains are interred. The grounds are organized in three tracts: the Lawn section near the entrance, the Dogwood section with beautiful spring blooms, and the Beech section where monuments are flush with ground level.
The Conover Parishes
St. Bernard's is one of the five Conover Parish Churches, named for the support they received in their early development from the Rev. Thomas Anderson Conover (1868-1943), the second Rector of St. Bernard's (1899-1939). He was instrumental in founding three of the five churches and in supporting the further growth of the other two. The Conover Churches are St. Mark's in Basking Ridge (1852), St. Bernard's in Bernardsville (1896), St. Luke's in Gladstone (1904), All Saints' in Millington (1906), and the Church of St. John on the Mountain in Bernardsville (1907). The clergy and people of the Conover Parishes continue to cooperate in ministry ventures in the Somerset Hills and beyond, and to celebrate together facets of a shared regional mission.
Visiting St. Bernard's
St. Bernard's is located at 88 Claremont Road in Bernardsville, New Jersey. Sunday Holy Eucharist, Rite II, is celebrated at 11 am, and the service is available via Zoom. The parish office can be reached at 908-760-3173 (admin@stbernardsnj.org); Pastor Beth can be reached at 908-766-0602 (priest@stbernardsnj.org). The new Parish House, opened in 2018, is more accessible than the original building it replaced.