The Old Bergen Church is a historic church congregation in Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Established in 1660 in what was then the Dutch colony of New Netherland, it is the oldest continuous religious congregation in what is today the State of New Jersey. The congregation is jointly affiliated with the Reformed Church in America and the Presbyterian Church (USA).[3] The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 14, 1973. The original church building was constructed in 1680 and the current edifice was built in 1841.[4]
Old Bergen Church | |
 Old Bergen Church in 2020 | |
    | |
| Location | Bergen and Highland Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°43′37″N 74°4′10″W / 40.72694°N 74.06944°W |
| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1841 |
| Architect | William H. Kirk and Company, Clark and Van Nest |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001103[1] |
| NJRHP No. | 1520[2] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | August 14, 1973 |
| Designated NJRHP | June 13, 1973 |
History
editThe congregation was formed in the Dutch colonial village of Bergen in 1660, located across the Hudson River from the town of New Amsterdam in what is today Lower Manhattan.[5] The first services were held in a log schoolhouse.[6] In 1680 an octagonal, sandstone church was built by William Day. The church was located on Vroom Street, between Bergen and Tuers Avenues. The congregation outgrew the original church and a second church was erected in 1773. This church was also made of sandstone and was located at the corner of Bergen Avenue and Vroom Street. The third and current church was built in 1841 by William H. Kirk and Company and Clark and Van Nest.[5]
Notable burials
editThe Old Bergen Church Cemetery and the Speer Cemetery are affiliated with the church.[7]
- Jane Tuers (1745–1834) – American Revolutionary War patriot.
Gallery
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Front of the Old Bergen Church in 1938. -
Original church from 1680.
See also
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References
edit- ^ "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Retrieved 2010-02-25.
- ^ "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Hudson County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection – Historic Preservation Office. July 7, 2009. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 5, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
- ^ "Old Bergen Church". oldbergenchurch.com. Retrieved January 4, 2009.[title missing]
- ^ "Jersey City Past and Present | New Jersey City University". www.njcu.edu. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
- ^ a b http://oldbergenchurch.org/history.html Archived 2009-08-03 at the Wayback Machine Accessed January 4, 2009.
- ^ "Jersey City History – Old Bergen – Chapter XXXV". www.cityofjerseycity.org. Retrieved January 4, 2009.
- ^ Sarapin, Janice Kohl (1994), Old Burial Grounds of New Jersey: A Guide, Rutgers University Press, ISBN 0813521114
External links
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Media related to Old Bergen Church (Jersey City, New Jersey) at Wikimedia Commons
- Old Bergen Church – Official Website
- {{Find a Grave cemetery}} template missing ID and not present in Wikidata.
- List of burials
- View of Old Bergen Church via Google Street View