Avon-By-The-Sea History

St. Elizabeth’s was founded in the early 1900's when land was donated at Fifth and Lincoln for a new Catholic church to serve this growing shore community.

Before this church was built, local Catholics traveled to Belmar for Mass. But in 1907, St. Elizabeth’s was formally incorporated, and within a year a Gothic-style stone church rose on this site. At first, it served mainly as a summer church, welcoming both local families and seasonal visitors.

Over time, the parish grew into a year-round presence. A rectory was added, generations of priests and parishioners shaped its life, and after a fire caused damage in 1986, the church was restored and expanded.

In 2018, it became part of the Parish of St. Teresa of Calcutta, continuing its mission in a new chapter.

More than a century after it was founded, St. Elizabeth’s remains a place of worship, resilience, and community memory.