Old Bergen Church

Old Bergen Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
New Jersey Register of Historic Places
Old Bergen Church in 2010.
Location:	Bergen and Highland Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey
Coordinates:	40°43′37″N 74°4′10″W / 40.72694°N 74.06944°W / 40.72694; -74.06944Coordinates: 40°43′37″N 74°4′10″W / 40.72694°N 74.06944°W / 40.72694; -74.06944
Area:	0.5 acres (0.20 ha)
Built:	1841
Architect:	William H. Kirk and Company, Clark and Van Nest
Architectural style:	Greek Revival
Governing body:	Private
NRHP Reference#:	73001103[1]
NJRHP #:	1520[2]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP:	August 14, 1973
Designated NJRHP:	June 13, 1973

The Old Bergen Church is located in Jersey City, New Jersey and is the oldest continuous congregation in New Jersey dating back to 1660. The congregation embraces a combination of Reformed Church in America and Presbyterianism.^[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 church was built in 1841.^[4]

History

The congregation was formed in the village of Bergen in 1660.^[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] The congregation is currently affiliated with the Reformed Church in America (RCA) and Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. (PCUSA).

Notable burials

The Old Bergen Church Cemetery and the Speer Cemetery are affiliated with the church.^[7]

• Jane Teurs (d. 1834) - American Revolutionary War patriot.

Gallery

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  Front of the Old Bergen Church in 1938.

• 

  Original church from 1680.

See also

New Jersey portal

• Bergen, New Netherland
• Bergen Square
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Hudson County, New Jersey
• Oldest churches in the United States
• Van Wagenen House
• List of cemeteries in Hudson County, New Jersey
• Voorleser

External links

• List of burials
• View of Old Bergen Church via Google Street View

References

1. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Listings". http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natregsearchresult.do?fullresult=true&recordid=44. Retrieved 2010-02-25. 
2. ^ "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Hudson County". NJ DEP - Historic Preservation Office. July 7, 2009. p. 7. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/1identify/lists/hudson.pdf. Retrieved February 25, 2010. 
3. ^ http://oldbergenchurch.org/ Accessed January 4, 2009.
4. ^ http://www.njcu.edu/programs/jchistory/Pages/O_Pages/Old_Bergen_Church.htm Accessed November 28, 2008.
5. ^ ^{a b} http://oldbergenchurch.org/history.html Accessed January 4, 2009.
6. ^ http://www.cityofjerseycity.org/oldberg/chapter35.shtml Accessed January 4, 2009.
7. ^ Sarapin, Janice Kohl, Old Burial Grounds of New Jersey: A Guide, Rutgers University Press, ISBN 0-8135-2111-4, http://books.google.nl/books?id=uDfIJt5RFWgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Old+burial+grounds+of+New+Jersey:+a+guide&source=bl&ots=awck2TM18_&sig=NIWA0uB5oncSNqxW59KXqq6z_Wg&hl=nl&ei=EEyGTb_tOJGdOojq-c8I&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCQQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false