The Aura Church
A Brief History
Who could have known that the faith and determination of a small band of local settlers would grow into a ministry that would touch hearts and lives for generations to come! The Aura Church is one of 89 historical sites in Gloucester County yet its true story is about the power of God’s Word to transform hearts and lives.
The settlement of Aura grew up around the “Union Chapel,” originally located on the northwest corner of the current Aura Cemetery. The history of the Union Chapel is tied to the spread of the early Methodist movement into South Jersey. Methodist meetings first began about one mile east of the current church at the log home of John Early.
Early, a native of Ireland, was born in 1738, the same year that John Wesley, founder of the Methodist revival, was filled with the Holy Spirit. Profoundly influenced by the Methodist emphasis on personal piety, reaching the lost, class meetings and biblical preaching, Early carried his faith to America and settled in near Aura prior to 1770. Preaching, prayer, and class meetings were held at John Early’s house where the scattered population gathered for worship and the teaching of God’s Word. Meetings were probably held there until after a great revival broke out in Hurffville in 1790. The impact of the revival was such that by 1806 the “Union Chapel” was constructed. The adjacent “Union” burial ground (now the Aura Cemetery) dates back to 1810. Jacob Fisler was one of the early class leaders of the Union Chapel. He was licensed to preach and later ordained as a Deacon by Bishop Asbury on April 25, 1802. Frances Asbury was appointed by John Wesley to the first bishop of the rapidly expanding Methodist movement in America. We count it as a great blessing that Bishop Asbury preached at the Union Chapel just ten days after Easter, on April 12 in 1809.
By 1878 membership had grown to such an extent that the church was moved to its present location and rebuilt. The side galleries were taken out and other changes made to modernize the building. In 1921 the church and parsonage were renovated, the gallery was enclosed, the junior choir loft was built and the church was reroofed. Continued growth and expansion of the church necessitated the construction of the Community Hall which was completed in 1924. In 1933, under the ministry of Rev. Franklin T. Buck the church was rebuilt. The new construction included the impressive four-pillared colonial portico and a steeple and bell that is still fully operational today.
In 1959, in order to meet the demands of a growing ministry and membership, ground was broken for a new Sunday School building. The addition provided eight classrooms, an all-purpose room, a pastor’s study, and a kitchen. The need for still more space precipitated a major renovation to Community Hall that was completed in 1979. In 1985 the corner stone of the church was removed to make way for a ramp that would make the church fully assessable. In 1987 a new electrified sign was dedicated and in 1999 our beautiful four-bedroom parsonage was constructed and dedicated to the glory of God.
On July 1, 2018 God led the Rev. Dr. Jeffrey W. Tilden to become our pastor and spiritual leader at the Aura Church. We are pleased that Dr. Tilden will follow in the great tradition of the faithful servants who have gone before us. The sacrifices they made, their love of Jesus and their steadfastness adherence to biblical preaching, teaching and living, laid the foundation for the ministry that we are privileged to carry out today. May the devotion of our dear departed saints inspire us and increase our resolve to honor Jesus, to strengthen the church and to reach a new generation for Christ.
“To each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it…
…So that the body of Christ may be built up.”
(Ephesians 4:7,12)