For details on how to log in to Zoom for Nathaniel’s installation and download the bulletin, please click here.
Highlands Presbytery to conduct installation service as historic church prepares for bicentennial
BOONTON, NJ – February 5, 2026 – The Presbytery of the Highlands of New Jersey is a member of The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and will oversee the installation of Rev. Nathaniel Fryer as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Boonton during a special worship service on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.
The installation service will be conducted by an Administrative Commission of the Highlands Presbytery, bringing together presbytery leadership, members of neighboring congregations, and the Boonton community to formally install Rev. Fryer in his pastoral role. The ceremony represents the continuation of nearly two centuries of ministry at this historic church building as the congregation prepares to celebrate the church’s 200th anniversary.
About Rev. Nathaniel Fryer
Rev. Fryer graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2023 with a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Christian Education and Formation. During his final year at Princeton, he wrote his Senior Thesis on the English Church during the Anarchy period, examining the role of the Church in England from 1125-1153 in caring for congregants and communities during a medieval civil war.
From August 2023 to August 2025, Rev. Fryer served as a Resident Minister at First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor, where his work included preaching, leading worship, supporting youth ministry, and facilitating campus ministry. In April 2025, he led several congregants on a Civil Rights Road Trip to the cities of Montgomery, Birmingham, Selma, and Memphis to understand more about the Christian church and its role in the Civil Rights movement.
Rev. Fryer is eager to bring his creativity for worship, preaching, pastoral care, Christian education, and relational ministry to First Presbyterian Church of Boonton.
“I’m looking forward to spending time getting to know Boonton and its history, walking around town with my corgi Penny, and enjoying First Fridays,” said Rev. Fryer. “This congregation has a rich heritage of faithful service, and I’m honored to join in that legacy as we move forward together.”
“We are blessed to welcome Rev. Fryer’s pastoral leadership at this significant moment in our church’s history. As we approach our bicentennial, we look forward to his guidance as we honor our heritage and embrace God’s vision for our future,” from a joint statement from Session.
A Welcoming Community
As a Presbyterian community of faith, First Presbyterian Church of Boonton stands firmly with the broader community and welcomes all people into its congregation. The church believes in creating an inclusive environment where everyone can experience God’s love and grace, regardless of their background or life circumstances.
First Presbyterian Church is a Matthew 25 congregation committed to living out Christ’s call to serve “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40). The church is dedicated to building congregational vitality, dismantling structural racism, and eradicating systemic poverty both within the community and beyond. Guided by compassion and faith, the congregation seeks to be the hands and feet of Jesus through acts of love, justice, and service, striving to make God’s kingdom visible “one act of kindness, one shared meal, and one life touched at a time.”
Mission in Action: Serving the Community
The church’s commitment to community service is exemplified through its sponsorship of two vital nonprofit organizations that serve Boonton and surrounding areas from the church building at 513 Birch Street:
Loaves & Fishes Community Food Pantry (www.lfcfp.org), co-sponsored with the Boonton United Methodist Church, serves those with food insecurities in the community. Operating twice weekly on Wednesdays (4-6 p.m.) and Saturdays (9-11 a.m.), the pantry serves over 200 families weekly, providing essential groceries while encouraging good nutrition, increasing self-sufficiency, and giving hope to neighbors in need.
Gateway Community Resource Center (www.gcrcnj.org), which grew out of the church’s vision to dedicate ground-floor space to hands-on mission programs, provides comprehensive support to individuals and families through educational programs, job training, legal services, and emergency assistance. Gateway offers free programming focused on help, education, and enrichment, partnering with nonprofits and local professionals to address community needs.
The timing of Rev. Fryer’s installation positions him to lead the congregation through the upcoming bicentennial celebration, honoring 200 years of this historic church’s presence in Boonton while casting a vision for its continued ministry in the community.
Members of the Boonton community, neighboring houses of worship, and all interested parties are warmly invited to attend the installation service followed by a reception.
EVENT DETAILS: Installation of Rev. Nathaniel Fryer Sunday, March 1, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. First Presbyterian Church of Boonton, 513 Birch Street Boonton, NJ 07005
For more information about the installation service or First Presbyterian Church of Boonton, visit www.fpcboonton.org or contact our church office at office@fpcboonton.org.
About First Presbyterian Church of Boonton
The First Presbyterian Church of Boonton has served the spiritual needs of Boonton and surrounding communities from its historic building since 1832. As a Matthew 25 congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and member of The Presbytery of the Highlands of New Jersey, the church offers Sunday worship services at 10:00 a.m. (in person and online), along with educational programs, community outreach, and fellowship opportunities for people of all ages. The church’s motto is “Rooted in Christ, Living Boldly, Serving with Compassion.” Learn more at www.fpcboonton.org.
About Loaves & Fishes Community Food Pantry
Loaves & Fishes Community Food Pantry is co-sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church of Boonton and the Boonton United Methodist Church and is registered as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. The pantry is open to all those with food insecurities in Boonton and surrounding communities. Learn more at www.lfcfp.org.
About Gateway Community Resource Center
Gateway Community Resource Center is a nonprofit organization sponsored by First Presbyterian Church of Boonton, offering free programs focused on help, education, and enrichment for the Boonton area community. The center provides a safe and inclusive environment for all. Learn more at www.gcrcnj.org.
About The Presbytery of the Highlands of New Jersey
The Presbytery of the Highlands of New Jersey is the regional expression of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Northwest New Jersey which includes the counties of Morris, Sussex, Warren, Passaic, Somerset, Mercer and Hunterdon. The community of the Presbytery of Highlands includes 79 PCUSA congregations. The Presbytery is part of the Synod of the Northeast.
The Presbytery community supports and encourages the ministries and mission of all individual congregations as well as those shared collaboratively and cooperatively by clusters of congregations. Mission emphasis includes local endeavors in ministries of feeding and sheltering the poor and homeless, responding to disaster, interfaith relationships, and peacemaking as well as international mission. The Presbytery has covenant agreements with Johnsonburg Camp and Conference Center and Blair Academy. Both are located within the boundaries of the presbytery.
Media Contact: Kim Robbins, Member of Session, 973.908.1433, krobbins.mktg@gmail.com
Leave a Reply