First Church of Hanover facts for kids
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First Presbyterian Church of Hanover
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 Location in Morris County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | East Hanover, New Jersey |
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| Built | 1835 |
| Architect | Elijah Hopping |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000896 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 10, 1977 |
The First Presbyterian Church of Hanover is a very old and important church located in East Hanover, New Jersey. It is also known as the First Church of Hanover or the Hanover Presbyterian Church. This church was started way back in 1718. At that time, New Jersey was still a British colony.
It is the oldest church group in Morris County. The building you see today was built in 1835. Because of its long history, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a special historic site in the United States.
Contents
History of the Church
Early Beginnings in 1718
The church's story began on September 2, 1718. A schoolmaster named John Richard gave three and a half acres of land. This land was next to the Whippany River. He gave it so that his Christian friends and neighbors could build a meeting house. This was a place for public worship.
Growth and a New Building
Over time, more people moved to the area. It became hard for everyone to travel to one church. So, new churches were started in nearby towns. These included Morristown, Madison, and Parsippany.
The Hanover Church itself was rebuilt in 1755. This new building was very close to where the current church stands. It was a bit to the east and faced the road.
A Hospital During the Revolution
During the American Revolutionary War, the church played a special role. An illness called smallpox spread among the soldiers. Many soldiers were staying near Morristown. The church building was used as a hospital to help them.
It is also said that George Washington and his helpers stayed nearby. They might have used the church's manse, which is the minister's house. That house has been updated but is still there today.
The Current Church Building
The church building you see now was built in 1835. Workers used wood from the old church building. They also used strong oak trees from the land around it. Some of the wooden beams inside still show marks. These marks are from hooks that held beds when it was a hospital.
The tall tower, called a belfry, was designed by a famous architect. His name was Sir Christopher Wren.
The Historic Cemetery
Next to the church is a small cemetery. This cemetery holds many old and important graves. One of the oldest graves belongs to Ruth Burnet, from 1750.
The cemetery is also the resting place for many soldiers. There are 52 soldiers buried there. Thirty-eight of them fought in the Revolutionary War. Three fought in the War of 1812. Eight were from the American Civil War. One soldier was from World War I, and two were from World War II.
See also
