Foundation and past
The rich history of Malaga Camp began with its initial 1858 incorporation under the Methodist Episcopal Church as the West Jersey Grove Association. Officially established as a camp meeting ground in 1869 by regional Methodist leaders and Civil War veterans, it was envisioned as a quiet, peaceful sanctuary dedicated to Christian renewal and scriptural holiness. In its earliest days, thousands of families from Across South Jersey traveled to the grove near Malaga Lake, pitching seasonal canvas tents along a grid of narrow pathways surrounding a central place of worship. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this temporary, rustic revival community transitioned into a permanent historic enclave. Families replaced their canvas tents with over 100 closely clustered, Victorian-style wooden cottages featuring distinct architecture. Landmark structures quickly became the heart of camp life, including the Archie Schull Grove Chapel, Richardson’s Temple, the 300-seat Paul W. Pedrick Tabernacle, and a beloved on-site ice cream parlor erected in 1901 to foster fellowship.
Present Day
Today, Malaga Camp thrives as a beautifully preserved spiritual community that remains uniquely dedicated to its original, 150+ year-old evangelical mission. Malaga Camp stands as one of the oldest continuously operating camp meeting sites in the United States. While similar late-19th-century camp meetings across New Jersey eventually evolved into standard, secular municipalities, Malaga Camp has deliberately protected its religious heritage. Operating dynamic year-round ministries, the camp hosts an active Calendar of Events, livestreamed summer camp meetings, specialized family retreat facility rentals, and the signature Malaga Summer Youth Camps designed to pass its legacy of faith down to new generations.
