Cold Spring Presbyterian Church facts for kids
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Cold Spring Presbyterian Church
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 Location in Cape May County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | 780 Seashore Road Cold Spring, New Jersey |
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| Built | 1823 |
| Architect | Thomas Hurst Hughes |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 91000785 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 14, 1991 |
The Cold Spring Presbyterian Church is a historic church in Cold Spring, New Jersey. It was founded way back in 1714. This church is part of the Presbyterian faith.
The Historic Church Building
The main church building is a two-story structure made of red brick. You can find it at 780 Seashore Road in the Cold Spring area of Lower Township. This is in Cape May County, New Jersey. The building you see today is called "Old Brick." It was built in 1823.
A man named Thomas H. Hughes designed and built it. He also designed another famous building, Congress Hall, in nearby Cape May, New Jersey. The "Old Brick" church replaced an older church from 1764. That 1764 church was made of wood and shingles. Even before that, the very first church building in 1714 was a simple log meetinghouse.
The church has a cemetery called Cold Spring Presbyterian Cemetery. It's a very old burial ground. You can find a grave from 1742 there, belonging to Sarah Eldridge Spicer. This cemetery also has more descendants of the Mayflower passengers buried there than almost anywhere else outside of Massachusetts.
Because of its importance, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 14, 1991. This means it's recognized as a special place in American history. It's important for how the area was settled, its design, its religious role, and its connection to local government.
Church History
The church congregation started in 1714. The first regular pastor, or minister, was John Bradner. He served the church from 1715 to 1721.
Later, Samuel Finley became a pastor here for several years. Finley was a graduate of the Log College, which was an important school for training ministers. He later became the president of the College of New Jersey. This college is now known as Princeton University!
Another graduate from the Log College, Daniel Lawrence, was pastor from 1752 until he passed away in 1766. His tombstone in the nearby graveyard has a special message carved into it:
In yonder sacred house I spent my breath,
Now, silent, mouldering here I lie in death,
Those silent lips shall wake and yet declare,
A dread amen to truths they publish there
The church celebrated its 200th anniversary on August 16, 1914. To mark the occasion, President Woodrow Wilson even sent a letter of congratulations!
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Church and Cemetery
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On a pre-1923 postcard
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View from the southwest. Notice that the back part of the church was added after the postcard picture was taken.
Notable Burials
Veterans Field of Honor at the cemetery
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The Cold Spring Presbyterian Cemetery is the final resting place for many important people.
- T. Millet Hand (1902–1956) was a politician who represented New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives.
- J. Thompson Baker (1847–1919) also served New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives.
- Thomas H. Hughes (1769–1839) was the architect who built the "Old Brick" church. He also represented New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives.
- Charles W. Sandman Jr. (1921–1985) was another politician who represented New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives.
- Lieutenant Richard Wickes (died June 29, 1776) was a soldier in the American Revolutionary War. He was badly wounded during the Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet.
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The gravestone of Richard Wickes.
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The gravestone of Memucan Hughes, II (1857).
See also
