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Saint Peter the Apostle Church
Saint Peter the Apostle Church, New Brunswick, NJ.jpg
Saint Peter the Apostle Church is located in Middlesex County, New Jersey
Saint Peter the Apostle Church
Location in Middlesex County, New Jersey
Saint Peter the Apostle Church is located in New Jersey
Saint Peter the Apostle Church
Location in New Jersey
Saint Peter the Apostle Church is located in the United States
Saint Peter the Apostle Church
Location in the United States
Location 94 Somerset Street, New Brunswick, New Jersey
Area 0.9 acres (0.4 ha)
Built 1865 (1865)
Architect Keely, Patrick Charles; O'Rourke, Jeremiah, et al.
Architectural style Gothic Revival, Greek Revival
NRHP reference No. 05001332
Quick facts for kids
Significant dates
Added to NRHP November 25, 2005

Saint Peter the Apostle Church is a very old and important Roman Catholic church. You can find it at 94 Somerset Street in New Brunswick, Middlesex County, New Jersey.

This church was the first Catholic church in New Brunswick. It started with mostly Irish Catholic families in 1829. The building you see today was finished in 1865. Because of its beautiful design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 25, 2005.

The Story of St. Peter's Church

Early Days and First Church

The first time a Catholic priest visited New Brunswick was in 1825. A priest named Father McDonough stopped by while traveling. Later that year, Father John Powers from New York City started holding Mass once a month. He first held services in a family's home, then in a big room above a shop.

In 1829, Bishop John Dubois sent Father Joseph Schneller to continue these monthly visits. Bishop Dubois officially started St. Peter & Paul Parish that same year. A simple brick church was built on Bayard Street in 1831. It was a bit tricky to get the land for the church because some people at the time were not friendly towards Catholics.

In 1833, Father Bernard McArdle became the first priest to live in New Brunswick. During his time, a big storm called the New Brunswick Tornado hit on June 19, 1835. It partly damaged the church, but people still used it after fixing it up with boards.

A New Leader and Big Plans

Father John Rogers, who came from Ireland, became the first permanent priest in 1845. He is known as the "founding pastor" of St. Peter's as we know it today. When he arrived, he saved the church building from being taken away. He also fixed it up, made it bigger, and built the first school for the church.

New Brunswick was growing fast, and more and more Catholic families were moving there. Father Rogers often traveled to nearby towns to help people. Because of this, St. Peter's became like a "Mother Church" for many other Catholic communities in Central Jersey.

Building the Grand Church

In 1853, the church bought land on Somerset Street, right across from Rutgers College. They hired a famous architect named Patrick Charles Keely to design a grand new church. The church you see now was built between 1854 and 1865. The first part of the church was finished in 1856, and that's when the cornerstone was laid.

In 1870, a wonderful set of bells was put in. These bells are very special, and they are still played on important holidays and other special times. A sacristy (a room where priests prepare for services) was added in 1891. The beautiful marble altar and decorations were put in in 1919. The stained-glass windows were replaced in 1950. In 1999, a new electronic organ was installed.

Other Important Buildings

Where the Priests Live

The St. Peter's Rectory is a beautiful old house. It was built before the church bought the land on Somerset Street. It has been the home of every main priest since Father Rogers. Many other priests have also lived there over the past 150 years. Today, it is home to a group of priests and brothers who serve St. Peter's Parish. They also help Catholic students at Rutgers University.

The Sisters' Convent

In 1867, a group of nuns called the Sisters of Charity came to teach at the church school. A building called a convent was built next to the new church for them to live in. The convent was made bigger in 1897, 1922, and again in 1952, so it could hold many sisters. Sisters lived there until 2004. After being fixed up, the convent building opened in 2010. It is now a center for Catholic students at Rutgers University.

Schools and Hospital

In 1892, a new school building was built near the original St. Peter's Hospital. This school became known as Columbia Hall. Later, a new elementary school with a gym was built in 1960. A new high school replaced Columbia Hall in 1970. St. Peter the Apostle High School closed in 2007. The elementary school closed in 2010. The church is still looking for ways to use these school buildings.

St. Peter's Hospital started from the church in the 1860s. It moved to its current location in the 1920s. Since then, the hospital has grown a lot. It is now the only Catholic hospital in the area.

Parish Hall

In 1991, the church's basement was changed into a parish hall. It had a special cave-like area that looked like the Lourdes grotto. The basement was updated again in 2010-2011. It is still used as a parish hall for both the church and the university students. New church offices were also added there in 2011.

St. Peter's Today

St. Peter the Apostle Parish celebrated its 175th birthday in 2004. In 2005, the Church, Rectory, and Convent were recognized as historic places. They were added to both the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places.

Right now, the church is working on fixing up these beautiful old buildings. This will help make sure they are safe and welcoming for many more years. St. Peter's Parish is still a very active and important part of Catholic life in New Brunswick, just as it has been for over 175 years.

The church is also known for having the best historical records in the Diocese of Metuchen.

Gallery

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