Grand Opening Event Planned For Chatham's Stanley Center

CHATHAM, NJ — Three years after the shuttering of the Stanley Congregational Church, the Borough of Chatham has announced that a new community center will soon take its place.

Chatham Borough Mayor Thaddeus Kobylarz and Chatham Borough Council Members recently announced that the Stanley Center, which has taken over the former church site, will officially open to the public on Oct. 29.

The grand opening ceremony will take place from 3 to 7 p.m.

The Stanley Center is located at 94 Fairmount Avenue and will serve as a center for the arts, a venue for special events, and a place to gather for the whole community.

“The Stanley Congregational Church, which was founded in 1869, played a central role in the life of this community through the years until its closing in 2020. While its departure represented a huge loss to Chatham, the spirit of the congregation will live on through the very generous gift of its facility to the Borough,” Kobylarz said.

During the grand opening event, guests are encouraged to enjoy cultural art performances by Chatham artists throughout the afternoon and early evening. Attendees can expect to be entertained by vignettes of various genres. While admission is free, seating is limited, so those who wish to attend must pre-register.

Registration can be completed here.

“I am excited to see the benefits of the church’s largesse beginning to materialize for our residents. And I believe I speak for everyone in the Borough in expressing my heartfelt gratitude to the congregation for this truly extraordinary gift,” Kobylarz said.

In 2022, residents of Chatham Borough were asked for their input about how to use the former Stanley Congregational Church, which was donated to the borough after it closed in 2020.

Council Member Jocelyn Mathiasen said there had been a great interest in the building from the community from the jump in 2022, which “points to a huge need in the community for a gathering place for events, among other things,” she said.

Both Mathiasen and Council Member Carolyn Dempsey brought up a range of potential uses for the building, which included a stage, commercial kitchen and other rooms, as well as 100-place settings of fine English china and the church’s former library.

“We are thrilled to be able to welcome neighbors to The Stanley Center! This has been a long time in the making after the Stanley Congregational Church officially turned the building over to the Borough nearly three years ago. In that time, many refurbishments have been made to the building and the property by our Public Works Department, Community Services Department, and many volunteers," Dempsey said.

"We are so excited to kick off the grand opening with tours, a concert and reception, all highlighting Chatham’s past, present and future. We welcome our residents to join in the celebration of this great addition to our community,” she continued.