By Amy Batista, Special Writer
HIGHTSTOWN — The Bethany Gospel Mission House and Chapel doors have reopened.
It was a decade journey that brought back the church on Stockton Street after fire shut down the facility in 2002.
Prior to its reopening, the First United Methodist Church of Hightstown teamed up with Bethany Mission Home and Chapel to help it rebuild.
”I still stay connected with the ministry of the Mission,” said the Rev. Paul Rowley of the First United Methodist Church of Hightstown. “I brought a team down to work on the Bethany Home last April. We are all happy for the progress that has been made and that the first floor is now back to functioning as a chapel. Our hope and prayer is that the entire mission home will be restored and will be able to fully function as it has in the past.”
The 14 rooms of the Bethany missionary, which is housed in a 121-year-old Victorian, as well as the organization’s chapel were rededicated in late December, showcasing the progress to the facility’s post-fire repairs. However, only a few of the facility’s upstairs rooms, which in the past were used as guest quarters for those in need, have been fully restored.
Although the church was shut down for 10 years, back in the ‘70s, it was part of a Hightstown network, or telephone reassurance program, in which volunteers called elderly residents each morning to make sure they were feeling alright.
”Mr. Zeltt was a gentleman whom I called,” said Lenore Isleib, of East Windsor, a member of the church.
She recalled that near the end of his life, Mr. Zeltt could no longer live on his own in his Housing Authority apartment.
”The Turtons (pastor Robert Turton III and his wife, Sandy) took Mr. Zeltt into their home at Bethany Gospel Mission until he received medical care and eventually went to live in a nursing home,” she said.
Robert Wood Johnson’s secretary, Gracie Garretson, as she was commonly referred to, spent the last four years of her life at the Bethany Mission Home being cared for by the Bethany Gospel Mission.
According to the church, the Bethany Gospel Mission provides religious, educational and charitable services to area residents. Its sister church, the Fresh Ponds Chapel, which was built in 1840, originally as the Methodist Episcopal Church, is celebrating its 172nd anniversary this year. It became nondenominational in 1887 and merged with the Gospel Mission Corps in 1963. It is located on Davidson Mill Roads in South Brunswick Township.
Disaster befell the Bethany Gospel Mission in 2002 when a visitor neglected to dispose of a cigarette properly inside the facility, which consequently caused a blaze that consumed the kitchen, downstairs bathroom and laundry room, according to Pastor Turton, who, along with his wife, has run the Bethany Gospel Mission for approximately 40 years.
He said the fire caused water damage to several bedrooms and hallways.
Caught between insurance policies and fundraising over the course of many years, the Bethany Mission House and Chapel recruited volunteers to help restore the house little by little, according to Pastor Turton.
The Borough of Hightstown revoked the organization’s tax exemption for housing religious services after the fire. It was reinstated prior to its reopening.
”We were the only church paying taxes in town,” said Pastor Turton, who lives in Hightstown.
He said, “It reminds me of the Book of Nehemiah in the Hebrew scriptures, what we call the Old Testament. The writer relates the re-building of the walls and gates of the holy city Jerusalem wherein he gives praise to almighty God and appreciates the diligent labors and generous contributions of the people whose willing efforts made it all a reality.”
However, while reopening the chapel was a milestone for Pastor Turton, the restoration of the church is only partially complete. Only the first level of the building has earned a temporary permit of occupancy.
Yet, a community advisory board and an auxiliary, composed of representatives from various area churches, continue their efforts to complete the restoration of Bethany’s second floor.
”I’ve only been (an advisory committee) member for the last couple of years,” said Carol Nelson, who is also a member of the First United Methodist Church and the regional advisory committee. “This has been a mission of ours. Many of the members helped restore this first floor. They played a valuable part of that.”
Noteworthy, the clergy who support the Bethany Mission House are nonsalaried volunteers.
Thus far, at least two rooms have been restored upstairs. There are seven total rooms on the second floor. There is also a third floor.
The church said its third and second floors must be restored in order for the organization to properly provide housing for those who need it, including travelers whose vehicles have broken down on the nearby New Jersey Turnpike, students visiting from abroad, the unemployed, homeless citizens, children from broken families, separated spouses and senior citizens.
Before the fire, this practice had made the Gospel Mission somewhat unpopular with some local residents.
”Some people in the neighborhood don’t like to take in homeless people,” Pastor Turton said. “There’s still a need.”
For Pastor Turton, serving the homeless is a fundamental aspect of his Christian mission.
”I attend meetings with several people who realize that the matter of homelessness, in regards to both short-term emergencies and those who are in extended need, in this area is an important concern,” Pastor Turton said. Still, “We are not a homeless shelter.”
The restored area of Bethany has been redecorated with the assistance and volunteerism of various members of the community. One of the rooms now features a blue plaid couch. There are pink and peach lace curtains over many of the windows and doors; the walls are adorned with paintings, tapestries and photographs.
Supporters of the church also donated an organ and a pulpit.
”I was very impressed by the warmth and hospitality shown by Bob and his wife, Sandy,” said Phyllis Giglio, of North Brunswick, a member of the church. “Over the years, my friendship with Pastor Bob deepened, and we worked on many charitable projects together.”
Pastor Turton said he is looking for volunteers, skilled in carpentry, electrical, construction work, who would be willing to help with the renovations. His goal is to have the upstairs completed by September at the latest.
Local Eagle Scout Chris Muller, of East Windsor, went on a tour with his mom, Pastor Heidi Bak of the First United Methodist Church of Hightstown, and Pastor Turton on Feb. 20 as part of the start of his Eagle Scout project. He said he is interested in renovating some of the rooms of the Gospel Mission House and Chapel.
To learn more, contact Pastor Turton via email at [email protected], by telephone at 609-448-2503 or by mail at Gospel Mission Corps, P.O. Box 175, Hightstown, 08520.

