St. James Lutheran Church (Pohatcong Township, New Jersey) facts for kids
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St. James Lutheran Church and Cemetery
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St. James Lutheran Church in 2017
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 Location in Warren County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1213 U.S. Route 22, Pohatcong Township, New Jersey |
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| Area | 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) |
| Architectural style | Early Republic (Federal) |
| NRHP reference No. | 16000737 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 24, 2016 |
The St. James Lutheran Church is a very old church built in 1834. It is also known as Straw Church. You can find it at 1213 U.S. Route 22 in Pohatcong Township, Warren County, New Jersey. Right across the street, in Greenwich Township, is the St. James Lutheran Cemetery.
Both the church and the cemetery are important historical places. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 24, 2016. This means they are recognized for their special design and their role in the area's early settlement. A building next to the church, called Fellowship Hall, and a small schoolhouse by the cemetery are not part of this historical listing. The brick schoolhouse, built in 1858, is listed separately as a state historical site.
Contents
The History of St. James Lutheran Church
How the Church Began
The church community started around 1760. It was a "union church" for German Lutheran and German Reformed Protestant settlers. This means people from two different Protestant groups shared the same church.
The First Church Buildings
People say the very first church was called Straw Church. It was a log building with a roof made of straw. This first church was built around 1767 in the area where the cemetery is now. A preacher named Christian Streit taught here. The second church building was made of stone and started being built in June 1790. The church you see today is the third one. It is made of brick and has a special stone with the date May 1, 1834, on it.
Early Leaders of the Church
The first full-time pastor (church leader) for St. James Lutheran Church started in 1769. His name was John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg. He was the oldest son of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, who is known as the founder of the Lutheran church in America.
Exploring the Historic Cemetery
The cemetery has a low limestone wall at the front. A stone by the entrance gate has the date June 1790 carved into it. The oldest gravestone found there is from 1771. It is a brown stone for a child named David Metz. Another gravestone, for Peter Heintz, from 1777, has a beautiful "tree of life" design carved on it. A German artist from Northampton County, Pennsylvania made this carving.
What the Church Looks Like
The church building is made of brick. It was designed in the Federal style, which was popular a long time ago. The front of the church has a special brick pattern called Flemish bond. The wooden tower on top, called a cupola, was added in 1960. This is the third church building to stand in this spot.
Images for kids
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Fellowship Hall and Church
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One-room schoolhouse, built 1858, by entrance to cemetery
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Cemetery and Church
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Headstone for David Metz, dated 1771
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Obverse of headstone for Peter Heintz, dated 1777
See also
- German Palatines
- List of Lutheran churches in the United States
