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The historical record of the Bridgeton Catholic community dates back to 1771 when the famous Jesuit “Father Farmer” came to Bridgeton a few times a year to baptize, officiate at marriages and celebrate Mass. Father farmers baptismal register dates from 1771 and closes in 1779. After 1779 there are no records of Catholic services in Bridgeton until 1819.
From 1819 until the early 1860’s Bridgeton Catholics were visited more frequently by various missions in the area as the Catholic community began to grow. Services were held in private houses. Bridgeton residents also traveled to Salem and Millville to attend services during this time.
In 1864, Rev. Martin I. Gesner of Millville built the first Catholic church in Bridgeton, St. Mary’s located at the corner of Pearl and North Streets. The church was dedicated in June 1867. At this time there were about thirty Catholic families in the Bridgeton area and Father Gesner worked very hard to build this up as a parish.
Rev. Theophilus Degan, succeeded Father Gesner in 1873 and was the first pastor when St. Mary’s was incorporated as a separate parish on November 28, 1874. Father Degan built the first rectory  during his pastorate which lasted until 1878 when he was transferred to another parish. He died in 1900 and is laid to rest in our parish cemetery, St. Mary’s
By 1901 the church had about 700 parishioners. Rev. Dr. Michael J. Haggerty was assigned to St. Mary’s Church at this time and he foresaw the need for a new edifice. In 1909 Dr. Haggerty started a fund known as the new church building fund and worked earnestly raising money for this fund. In 1911, when a c hange of rectors was made, the fund had increased to about $10,000.
Father Hassett took up the work for the new structure, and in 1912 ground breaking ceremonies for our present day church took place. On June 15, 1913 the new church was complete and the dedication ceremonies took place.
 According to a Bridgeton Evening News article at that time, “there were about 650 people present at the dedicatory service, the attendance being so large that chairs had to placed in the aisle. Right Rev. Bishop James E. McFaul, D.D.,L.L.D., of Trenton conducted the service of dedication, blessing the outer walls, the inner walls, and then the sanctuary. Bishop McFaul warmly congratulated the priest and congregation upon their church which, he said, is one of the most beautiful of the smaller churches of the diocese.”
In 1915 the Diocesan Administration changed the name of the parish to the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
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