The Presbyterian Society of Forked River and vicinity bought the building erected by the Baptists at Cedar Creek and the certificate of the incorporation of "The Presbyterian Church of Cedar Creek" was recorded June 17, 1857, and names as trustees Joseph Holmes, James Jones and William A. Low.

The building was taken down in 1865 and removed to Forked River. It had been bought of the Baptists in 1857 chiefly through the agency of Rev. Dr. Charles F. Worrell. At Forked River it was put up on a lot presented by Mr. James Jones. The certificate of incorporation of the Presbyterian Church at Forked River states that at a meeting held June 9, 1865, the trustees elected were James Jones, Joseph Holmes and Benjamin F. Holmes. The certificate was filed in County Clerk's office September 19, 1865.

In March of the same year a Sabbath School was established, of which Rev. Mr. Frazee of Toms River, became superintendent, and it proved very successful.

Among the ministers who occasionally preached were Rev. Messrs. Darrach, D. V. McLean, J. H. Frazee, C. F. Worrell, Wm. S. Betts, Frank Chandler, Thaddeus Wilson and Allen H. Brown. In January, 1871, Rev. Frank Chandler, of Freehold, presented the Sabbath School with a fine library comprising 200 volumes of new books.

June 17, 1873, a Presbyterian Church was regularly organized at Forked River.

The following were the first members of the church: Edwin R. Spaulding, Josephine M. Spaulding, John Bowers, Anna M. Bowers, Theodosia Bowers, Randolph Lane, Joseph Holmes, Sr., Ann Holmes, Deborah A. Stout, Mary J. Lonan.

On September 14, 1873, Rev. James M. Denton was called as the first pastor of the church. All efforts of ministers previous to that had been of a missionary character. He accepted, and was installed November 25, 1873.

The same evening the new pastor, Rev. Mr. Denton, was married to Miss Theodosia Bowers, daughter of John Bowers.

The superintendent of the Sunday School at this time was Elder E. R. Spaulding.

This church being under the same pastor as the Presbyterian Church at Barnegat, the successive pastors were the same.

The first Sunday School established at Forked River was in 1828, and continued, probably, with some intermissions, until about 1831. It was organized through the efforts of Mr. Amos Salter, a Presbyterian from Newark, N.J., and living at Forked River. The books for the school were procured in part from the American Sunday School Union, and in part from some of Amos Salter's old Presbyterian friends at Newark.

The Sunday School was non-sectarian, as there was no Presbyterian in the vicinity but the superintendent, whose unselfish labors and conscientious adherence to old Presbyterian precepts and practices, even to reading the Bible and having family prayers morning and evening, made a favorable impression on the people of the vicinity.

The following list, though prepared from memory, gives the names of nearly all the regular attendants of the school: Elmira Rogers, Isaac Rogers, Katie Rogers (deaf and dumb), Joel Worden, Martha Worden, Daniel Worden, Samuel Worden, Anthony Salter, John Salter, Daniel Salter, Elizabeth Salter, Emeline Salter, Silas Salter, Smith Salter, Sarah Salter, Edwin Salter, Joseph Parker, Randolph Lane, Alice Lane, Ann Maria Lippincott, Debby Lippincott, Hannah Lippincott, Manly Lippincott, Jesse Bunnell, Miles Bunnell, Lydia Bunnell, Amos Bunnell, J. Snowden Bunnell, Melinda Bunnell, Augustus Conover, Joseph Conover, Angeline Holmes, Laura E. Holmes, Daniel L. Chamberlain, Sarah Chamberlain, Robert L. Chamberlain, John Chamberlain, Jane Chamberlain, Leonard Brinley, William (?) Soper, Catharine List, Judith List, Amanda Williams, John Russell, Hester Woolley, John Woolley, Ann Woolley, John Worden, James Worden, Elizabeth Worden, Harriet Worden, John Cornelius, Lydia Tilton, Cornelius Lane, James Chamberlain, William Ferguson, Leah Soper.

Of the above, Elmira Rogers married Capt. Samuel Beatty, Hannah Lippincott married Capt. Anthony Camburn, Elizabeth Salter married Capt. J. Conover Williams, Ann Woolley married Capt. Randolph Lane, Hester Woolley married Capt. John Parker, Emeline Salter married Capt. David S. Parker, Amanda Williams married Capt. Jacob Vaughn, Laura E. Holmes married Capt. Edward Lonan, Martha Worden married John Barkalew, Sarah Chamberlain married Joseph Yarnall.

The certificate of incorporation of this church is dated October 13, 1884, and names as Trustees Charles P. Bunnell, B. S. Chamberlain, Job Faulkinburgh, Annaniah G. Wilbert, Uriah Havens, Winfield S. Parker and Charles Williams.

Services were first held in it in the fall of 1887, before the edifice was completed and while Rev. Mr. Tomlin was pastor in charge. The Methodists had held services in the old Forked River schoolhouses almost from Bishop Asbury's time.

The charter of this Division, dated March 12, 1849, names as charter members Joseph Parker, Samuel Potter, Jacob Platt, David I. C. Rogers and others; and was signed by Wm. P. Searles, G. W. P., and Henry B. Howell, Jr., G. S. of the Grand Lodge of the State. It was incorporated the following year, Cornelius Lane, W. P., and Charles W. Bunnell, R. S., and the certificate recorded December 21, 1850.

The upper mill on the north branch of Forked River was formerly known as Holmes' Mill. On the first of August, 1759, a survey of one and one-half acres there was made to Jeremiah Stilwell "at request of John Holmes, the elder." This tract was by the mill-pond. In 1760, John Holmes, the elder, bought sixteen acres.

In 1766 John Holmes, the elder, and Daniel Holmes bought 10.60 acres.

John Holmes, the elder, died intestate and his estate went to his children, William, Jonathan, John, Huldah, who married Daniel Williams, Mary, who married Thomas Green, and Catharine and Sarah; the estate was subject to the right of dower of the widow Catharine, who afterwards married Thomas Wright.

William Holmes, son of John, bought out the other heirs August 6, 1795.

In 1810 James Hankinson took up fifty acres adjoining mill tract, but the survey was mislocated. In the same year he took up fifty-three acres in same vicinity.

The certificate of incorporation, recorded February 16, 1869, states that whereas the Evangelical and Religious Society, usually, meeting for public worship at Waretown, did assemble October 30, 1868, and adopt the name of "The Methodist and Presbyterian Church at Waretown" and elected the following Trustees: Daniel Camburn, Joseph Camburn, Elwood Headley, Garrison Camburn and James Anderson.

At a meeting held May 4, 1867, the following persons were elected Trustees of the "Universalist meeting, Waretown": Jacob Birdsall, James Edwards, R. Lathrop, John Warren, Enoch H. Jones.

The certificate of incorporation was recorded May 7, 1867.

In the fall of 1883 an addition of twelve feet to the rear of the church was made and the roof raised about two feet.

At a meeting held at the Select Schoohouse, Waretown, June 18, 1861, of which Samuel Birdsall was Chairman, and Jacob Birdsall Secretary, the following persons were named as members of the Association: Benjamin Predmore, Sr., Jacob Birdsall, Ezekiel Birdsall, Elwood Wilkins, Taylor C. Newberry, Enoch H. Jones, Joseph H. Birdsall, Samuel Birdsall.

The annual meetings to be held the last Saturday in each year. The certificate of incorporation was recorded June 21, 1861.

The cemetery grounds are located on rising ground on a road to the bay and an ancient graveyard is included in the bounds. The lots are large and some are owned by people living elsewhere who have ancestors buried here.