Connecticut Farms Presbyterian Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Connecticut Farms Presbyterian Church |
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Church in 2007
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Presbyterian |
| Leadership | The Rev. Roberta (Bobbie) Arrowsmith, Minister |
| Year consecrated | 1730 |
| Location | |
| Location | Union, NJ |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 1782 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | east |
| Materials | Brick |
| Website | |
| http://www.ctfarms.org | |
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First Presbyterian Congregation of Connecticut Farms
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 Location in Union County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | Stuyvesant Avenue at Chestnut St., Union, New Jersey |
| Area | 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) |
| Built | 1782 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000398 |
| Added to NRHP | April 3, 1970 |
The Connecticut Farms Presbyterian Church is a very old church located in Union, New Jersey. You can find it at Stuyvesant and Chestnut avenues, close to U.S. Route 22. This church is special because it is the oldest church in the entire township.
Contents
A Church for the Community
Building the First Church
In 1667, people from Connecticut settled in a place they called Connecticut Farms. To go to church, they had to travel about 4 to 5 miles (6–9 km) every Sunday. The roads were not very good, and the journey was tough.
So, in 1730, the community decided to build their own church. They worked together to create a wooden building. It was placed in the middle of town on a small hill. Soon after, a house for the minister, called a parsonage, was built nearby.
The Revolutionary War and Rebuilding
The first church building stood for about 50 years. During the American Revolutionary War, something sad happened. In 1780, British and Loyalist soldiers, led by a general named Wilhelm von Knyphausen, attacked the town.
They burned down the church, the parsonage, and many other buildings in the area. This event was part of the Battle of Connecticut Farms. The British were trying to reach Morristown but did not succeed.
During this battle, a woman named Hannah Caldwell was tragically killed. She was the wife of James Caldwell, who was a Continental Army chaplain (a minister in the army). Hannah was at home with her baby and a three-year-old child when she was shot. The parsonage where this happened is now a museum.
After the war ended, the people of Connecticut Farms worked hard to rebuild their town. In 1782, they built a new church. This time, they used strong brick, and the building has stood ever since. Sometimes, the church even earned money by selling grass and apples from its orchards.
Modern Changes and Recognition
Over the years, the church has been updated. In 1901, a new house for the minister, called a manse, was built next to the church. The church itself was made bigger in 1920 and again in 1949. These new parts were designed to match the church's original style.
Because of its long and important history, the Connecticut Farms Presbyterian Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. It was the very first church in New Jersey to receive this special recognition.
Images for kids
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The church on a vintage postcard
See also
