Christ Church, New Brunswick, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Church |
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| The Rector, Church Wardens, and Vestrymen of Christ Church in the City of New Brunswick | |
| Christ Episcopal Church | |
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| Location | New Brunswick, New Jersey |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Episcopal |
| Weekly attendance | 145 (2014) |
| Website | Christ Church New Brunswick |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 1761 |
| Events | Third public reading of the Declaration of Independence (which occurred in New Brunswick, July 8, 1776 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Philip French (1750 original) Henry Dudley & Frederick Wills (1852 rebuild) |
| Architectural type | Mission parish |
| Style |
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| Years built | 1742–49 |
| Groundbreaking | 1742 |
| Completed | 1750 |
| Specifications | |
| Number of spires | 1 |
| Materials | Sandstone rubble while the stone tower is composed of irregularly sized shaley sandstone rubble with a copper roof |
| Administration | |
| Episcopal area | Episcopal Church in the United States of America |
| Diocese | Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey |
| Province | Province II |
Christ Church, also known as Christ Episcopal Church, is a very old and important church in New Brunswick, New Jersey. It's a special place with a long history, dating back to the 1700s. It's even listed on the National Register of Historic Places!
Contents
A Look Back: Early Days of Christ Church
The story of Christ Church began in 1701. An English minister named Thomas Bray started a group called the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (SPG). Their goal was to help new English settlers with their religious needs.
In 1711, a group of Anglicans (members of the Church of England) held services in an old building in Piscataway, New Jersey. By 1717, they built a new timber church. As more people moved to the area, including New Brunswick, the need for another church grew.
Building a New Church in New Brunswick
In 1742, a group decided to build a new church in New Brunswick. They called it Christ Church. The land for the church was given by Philip French, a big landowner. He didn't sell land often, but he leased it for public buildings for a very small fee. For Christ Church, the yearly rent was just "one peppercorn a year, only if asked." This original lease is still kept at the church today!
Christ Church started as a "mission parish," meaning it was supported by a larger church. It became an independent church with its own official charter in 1761.
Christ Church During the American Revolution
The time around the American Revolution was tricky for Christ Church. While some members, like Col. John Neilson and Brigadier General Anthony White, fought for American independence (the Patriots), others were Loyalists. Loyalists supported the British Crown. For example, John Antill fought with a Loyalist group called the New Jersey Volunteers.
The Rector's Difficult Choice
The church's leader, Reverend Abraham Beach, faced a tough decision. He agreed with the Patriots' goals but didn't support fighting. As an Anglican priest, he had promised to support the King. The church services also included prayers for the King. One day, he was threatened if he said those prayers. So, he decided to close the church for the war.
Even with the church closed, Reverend Beach continued his work. He held services in people's homes. He sometimes skipped the prayers for the King if he thought it would upset people.
Helping Form a New American Church
After the war, the newly independent American states worked to form a strong country. The American churches, which used to be part of the Church of England, also wanted to unite. Reverend Abraham Beach was a key leader in this effort.
In 1784, he invited church leaders to meet at Christ Church. This meeting led to a larger gathering in October 1784. This bigger meeting then led to the First General Convention in 1785. This is how the Episcopal Church we know today was formed, with leaders, clergy, and regular members all having a say.
Music at Christ Church
Music has always been important at Christ Church. The church got its first pipe organ in 1788. A choir started in the early 1800s. Over the years, new and better organs were added. In 1894, a formal choir of men and boys was started. Today, the church's music program continues this long tradition.
Christ Church in the 19th Century
In 1852, the church was doing well financially. They decided to replace their 100-year-old building with a larger one. They even reused some of the stones from the first building!
Growing the Church's Reach
Reverend Elisha Brooks Joyce helped grow the church's programs. He also oversaw the building of a new Parish House in 1897, which is still used today. This building project put the church in debt.
However, the next leader, Father Herbert Parrish, was very good with money. He helped create an "endowment fund" for the church. By the time he left, the church had $250,000 saved. This money helped the church survive tough times, like the Great Depression, much more easily than other churches.
Father Parrish also believed in Sunday Schools for kids. He helped start the Highland Park Sunday School in 1921, which later became All Saints Episcopal Church. Christ Church also helped start other Episcopal churches in the area, like St. Alban's Church in New Brunswick.
The Modern Era at Christ Church
Reverend Canon Walter Stowe led Christ Church for 37 years (1929–1966), the second-longest time in the church's history. This period included major world events like the Great Depression and World War II. Thanks to the church's savings, they managed the Depression well. However, World War II deeply affected the church. Many young men from the church served in the war, and some did not return.
Supporting Students and Music
After the war, Reverend Stowe helped create an Episcopal chaplaincy at Rutgers University. This program supported Episcopal students at the university.
George Huddleston was the church's organist and choir director for 44 years, from 1930 to 1974. After him, Clifford Hill, Jr. took over. Under his leadership, women joined the adult choir.
Changes in Worship and Outreach
Charles Gomph Newbery became the rector in 1966. He made some changes to the church's worship space, like adding a freestanding altar. He also started an English as a Second Language program to help people in the neighborhood.
Reverend Joan Fleming served as Rector from 1993 to 2004. She worked to make everyone feel welcome, no matter their background. She started the first Black Heritage Celebration in 1994, a tradition that continues today. She also created programs like "Italian Night" and "International Night" to celebrate different cultures.
Under her leadership, Mark Trautman became the Director of Music. He brought jazz and gospel music into services and developed a full-time choir program. He also helped get a new, special organ for the church in 1997. This organ is very famous and is used by music students from Rutgers University.
Christ Church's Influence in the Area
A Church for Leaders
For many years, Christ Church was known as an "establishment church." This meant many important and wealthy people were members. It was even called the "Johnson and Johnson Church" because people like James Wood Johnson (who co-founded Johnson & Johnson) and Walter Williams (a president of Johnson and Johnson International) were members. Other members included leaders in banking and healthcare, like Grace Wells, who founded what is now Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.
Today, the church is more focused on its local community and is made up of many different kinds of people.
A Story of Race and Change
For a long time, Christ Church was seen as a church mainly for white people. In its early days, enslaved Black people were baptized there, but this did not make them free. Records show 26 baptisms of enslaved people owned by church members.
In the 1800s and early 1900s, Black members were seated separately in the church's gallery. When the church stopped charging for pews in the 1920s, the organ was moved to the gallery, displacing the Black members. Feeling unwelcome, these African American members formed their own church, St. Alban's Episcopal Church, which still exists today.
The church's racial makeup didn't change much for about 50 years. But in the mid-1970s, things began to shift. Black people moving to the city, including many from the Caribbean and African countries, started joining Christ Church. At first, some existing members were not very welcoming.
However, two people helped change this: Reverend Canon Frank Carthy and Reverend Martin Gutwein. They worked to connect with the wider community and made newcomers feel welcome. Because of their efforts, more and more new members, including people of color, became involved in church activities.
The current leader of Christ Church, the 27th rector, is Reverend Joanna Hollis, who has served since 2013.
Notable Burials at Christ Church Graveyard
Reverend Abraham Beach gravesite
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| Details | |
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| Established | 1754 |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| Type | Church |
| Owned by | Christ Church New Brunswick |
| No. of interments | 1,253 |
The Christ Church graveyard is the final resting place for many important historical figures:
- John Croes (1762–1832) – He was the rector of Christ Church and the first Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey. He is buried under the altar in the church. His wife, Martha, and daughter, Ann (who was the first choir director), are buried nearby.
- Brigadier General Anthony Walton White – He served as an aide-de-camp (a personal assistant) to George Washington during the American Revolution. His grave is near the church door.
- Rear Admiral Charles Stuart Boggs (1811–1888) – He was a brave naval officer. He fought in the Mexican–American War and was a hero during the Capture of New Orleans in the Civil War. He became a rear admiral in 1870.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Middlesex County, New Jersey
- List of Episcopal churches in the United States
