Latest revision as of 00:01, 3 December 2024

Parsippany Gospel Hall is an English-speaking open brethren assembly in Morris Co., New Jersey that was originally an Italian-speaking hive from the English-speaking East Orange Gospel Hall, which was founded prior to 1904. The Italian assembly was founded in 1922 primarily by Rocco Cappiello who was saved in Waterbury, Connecticut on April 23, 1919 after being invited to two months of gospel meetings thru a tract invitation from a boy on the street in February of that year. In 1921, he relocated to Orange, New Jersey where he worked in Muir's Department Store by day, and witnessed by night, and souls were added to the East Orange assembly until 1922 when Cappiello and others met in various places to remember the Lord in Italian.

1926 USCoRB indicated that there were 19 in fellowship (9 men, 10 women) including 3 S.S. teachers, presiding over 30 children (for a total of 49). The Hall was a rented facility (with $315 in annual expenses), and $150 was additionally spent towards the Lord's work in 1926. They acquired their own building in East Orange in 1955, then relocated to Livingston in 1955, and in 2022 to their current location at 205 Vail Road in Parsippany. Visitors from other assemblies wishing to break bread are encouraged to provide a letter in advance.

Locations

• storefront @ Henry St.
• storefront @ 53 S. Day St. +1926-1927+
• storefront @ 83 S. Day St. +1936+
• 177 S. Essex Ave.
• storefront @ Park Ave.
• own building, East Orange - 1955-1988
• 405 E. Mount Pleasant Ave., Livingston, NJ ?-2022
• 205 Vail Rd., Parsippany 2022-current

Early Correspondents

• Joseph Rannelli @ 190 Taylor St. +1926-1936+

1980 Historical Sketch

"In February 1919 in Waterbury, Conn., a young man named Rocco Cappiello was walking indifferently, smoking a cigar when a boy handed him a tract with an invitation to gospel meetings. The first time Cappiello went to the gospel meeting he was so impressed with what he had read from the Bible that he made up his mind that he was going to get a Bible, even if he had to steal one. After the meeting they gave him a Bible which he embraced as if someone had given him a bag of gold. He continued attending meetings for two months and finally, on April 23rd, 1919, he was saved while reading John 3:16. Immediately his newfound joy knew no limits, and he began to witness to everyone he met.

In 1921, Rocco moved to Orange, N.J. where he worked in Muir's Department Store by day and labored for the Lord after work. After the first Memorial Day conference in 1920 in New York City, Mr. Olearo, who was saved and in fellowship with the East Orange English Assembly, had invited Diorio and DeCarlo to come to Orange. The English assembly, encouraged by A. Moffatt, cooperated by renting a store in the Italian section and even invited Cesar Patrizio to do some work in the city.

However, the work was extremely difficult; they were able to get very few out to the meetings. After Rocco had moved to Orange, he wrote a letter to Diorio explaining the difficulties. He called Orange a very fortress of Satan; the many Italians were all extremely opposed to the gospel and were fanatic slaves of the Church of Rome. He persisted in his work from house to house with little results. He needed a place to board and prayed that the Lord would lead in the right place.

He found a room in the home of the in-laws of Salvatore Iatesta. Cappiello would leave his Bible opened on the table with a gospel text marked, praying that someone would stop and read the verse. On the third day, who should walk in but Salvatore Iatesta! He saw the new boarder reading a book and asked what he was reading. Cappiello told him it was the Bible, God's Word, and that he was reading John 10:9 which made it clear that there was only one door to Heaven and Christ was the door. He showed a great interest and even invited Cappiello to his house. However, his wife was very antagonistic so Cappiello had to visit him at the railroad station where he worked as the night baggage man. One evening, on his way home from work, he was gloriously saved and became the first fruits of the Orange Italian assembly. Cappiello called for two of his brothers from Italy, and the Lord soon saved them.

Walking up Essex Avenue, Cappiello stopped in a grocery store, that specialized in Italian milk products, to speak to the owner. He discovered that this was John Iatesta, brother of Salvatore Iatesta. He did not even mention to John what had taken place in his brother's life. He preached to him and he gave him a New Testament. John was well educated and started to read the New Testament given him. He soon was convicted of the truth and one night knelt and asked the Lord to save him. The Lord answered and saved him. He then requested a large family text Bible so everyone could see it. The newly saved started witnessing, the interest was growing, Satan's citadel was beginning to shake.

Rocco then went to a Richmond Hill, New York conference to recruit some help. Here he met Vito Soccurto of Waterbury, Conn. He pleaded with him to spend one week in Orange. Bro. Soccurto could neither read nor write. He informed Cappiello that he could not come, for it was not easy for him to find a job and he was afraid that he would lose his job. Cappiello told him that the opposite was true, that if he would not come the Lord would make him lose his job; so he came. They both slept in a single bed and joyously distributed tracts and witnessed at every opportunity. Soccurto kept the same job for over 25 years until his retirement.

It was while John Iatesta was sick and was being visited by his brother-in-law that Cappiello first met Joseph Rannelli. He was the day baggage agent at the Orange station and also became interested in being saved, and was saved in a doctor's office while repeating Matthew 11:28.

Cappiello then sent a Macedonian call to Louis Rosania to come over to Orange to do some work in the gospel. They had rented a small store on Henry Street with a pot stove for heating purposes. One night no one came to the meeting; Cappiello was the only one in the store. Someone told him to start singing. He reasoned that it would look foolish for him to sing, but he sang on. A woman, Mrs. Angelone, passed by and heard the singing and stepped in to see what was going on. Cappiello stopped singing and started preaching to her. This woman continued to come to the meetings. Her husband found out she was coming to the meetings and gave her a beating. She was soon saved and then the Lord saved her husband also.

As souls were being saved they were being baptized in the English assembly hall till the year 1922 when they met together to remember the Lord in Italian for the first time. Two years later they took over the Memorial Day weekend for their annual conference and this conference was continued yearly until World War II forced them to discontinue the conference. Besides the store on Henry Street, the assembly met in two stores on Day Street. The longest stay was on 177 S. Essex Ave., then to a store on Park Avenue. The assembly continued to prosper and on June 1, 1955 purchased their own building where they [met until 1988].

Among those who formed part of the first meeting were the following:

• Mr. Salvatore Iatesta
• Mr. & Mrs. John Iatesta
• Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Babusci
• Mr. & Mrs. Louis Cappiello
• Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Cappiello
• Mr. Joseph Cappiello
• Mr. & Mrs. Charles Russo
• Mrs. Anna Angelone
• Mr. Rocco Cappiello
• Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Rannelli

The first young person saved was Dorothy Iatesta on Sept. 15, 1922 who also joined the assembly.

A great revival year in our assembly history was the year 1931. Some saved and added to the assembly at that time were:

• Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Demarino
• Mr. & Mrs. Domenic Valvano
• Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Valvano
• Mr. Domenic Prinzo
• Pat Deliberto
• and many of the children.

The first meeting in English and also the first Sunday School was started in 1931. Soon the burden of the Sunday School and English meetings fell on Joseph Rannelli and then Doc Iatesta and Michael Rannelli. Sunday School Teachers Conferences were started so we could improve our Sunday Schools. Some who were in the Sunday School at that time can remember that we printed our own Sunday School newsletter and presented report cards.

When the Italian servants of the Lord went to be with the Lord or could not travel any longer, little outside help was received. The work was carried on by the local brethren. A revival was building up. After contacting several servants of the Lord, it was Clark McClelland who first responded. He also introduced us to capable brethren as George Heidman, Gordon Reager, Robert McClurkin, Neil Dougal and Ernest Sprunt. For the year 1965 through 1968 there was a great reaping of souls. Some saved at that time were:

• Ben & Betty Cappiello
• David & Myra Cappiello
• Jo Ann Torsiello
• Anthony Torsiello

We can be very thankful that the Lord has always gifted our assembly with spiritual guides. Who will ever forget the effect Orie Vieldhouse had on us! We have a goodly heritage. The work of our assembly constantly prospered from the small group that huddled around the pot stove in the store on Henry Street to the large group and fellowship we now enjoy in our comfortable Gospel Hall. Who will ever forget the recent series of Gospel meetings in March 1980 held for 3 1/2 weeks with Eugene Higgins and David Oliver when our hall was packed every night with many unsaved present and souls saved. We must ever be on our guard as Satan is ever active when he sees the Lord working. Much prayer is needed both collectively and privately. Let us all join to pray that our assembly will be kept in Scriptural paths. May the Lord keep us simple, spiritual, sincere and separated.

We cannot conclude this historical sketch of our assembly on this 58th year and also our 25th anniversary in our Gospel Hall without giving special thanks to the Lord for the many faithful and godly sisters who help in so many ways to make our assembly what it is. Their names are known to the Lord."

Also See

• PGH's website & Facebook
• Who's Who at Parsippany Gospel Hall, NJ notable alumni
• Visiting Ministry at Parsippany Gospel Hall, NJ ministry reports

Sources

• Historical Sketch of the Clinton Street East Orange Assembly, 1980. Courtesy of Allan Valvano on 11-28-2024.
• 1926 USCoRB