St. Michael's Church (Trenton, New Jersey) facts for kids
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St. Michael's Episcopal Church
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 Location in Mercer County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | Trenton, New Jersey |
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| Built | 1748 |
| Architect | Augustine M. VanKirk |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003280 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 29, 1982 |
St. Michael's Church is a very old church in Trenton, New Jersey. It was started way back in 1703! This church is one of the first churches of the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey.
The building you see today at 140 North Warren Street was built between 1747 and 1748. It has been updated a few times since then, in 1810 and again in 1847–1848. Because of its long history, St. Michael's Episcopal Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 29, 1982.
The people who go to St. Michael's Church have been involved in Trenton's history and culture for over 300 years, right up to today!
Contents
A Look Back: Church History
Early Days in the 1700s
St. Michael's Church began in 1703 in an area called Hopewell Township. The first church building was put up in 1704. It was a Church of England building. In 1708, Anne, Queen of Great Britain gave special gifts to the church. These gifts are now kept at the New Jersey State Museum.
The main part of St. Michael's Church, where people worship, was built in 1747–1748. It's still in the same spot on North Warren Street in Trenton. The church was greatly updated in 1810. The cool turrets (small towers) you see facing Warren Street are from that 1810 update. The old bell tower, however, is no longer there.
The American Revolution and the Church
In 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, the church had to close. This was because the people in the church were split. Some were Patriots (who wanted America to be free), and some were Loyalists (who wanted to stay loyal to Britain).
During the war, the church building was used as a hospital. The churchyard, which is the land around the church, became a burial ground for Hessian soldiers. These were German soldiers who fought for the British.
After the war, Reverend William Frazer was allowed to come back as the church's leader. He had been a Loyalist during the war. Reverend Frazer also ran a school. In the early 1790s, two of Alexander Hamilton's oldest sons, Philip and Alexander Jr., went to his school.
Important Moments in the 1800s
In 1801, St. Michael's Church hosted a very important meeting. It was the seventh General Convention of the Episcopal Church. At this meeting, leaders agreed to a new version of the Anglican Church's 39 Articles of Religion. This meant the Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA could be part of the Anglican Communion without having to promise loyalty to the British king or queen.
The 1900s and Today
In the early 1900s, some members from St. Michael's Church helped start Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. This cathedral is now the main church for the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey.
A really special event happened in 1955. St. Michael's Church decided to welcome everyone, no matter their race. They merged with St. Monica's Parish, which was a church for African Americans. This was a big step for racial integration. Even today, St. Michael's Parish is a diverse community with people from many backgrounds.
In 1973, St. Michael's became a "mission" of the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey. This means it gets support from the wider church. In 2006, the church received a $50,000 grant. This money was for studying the building and grounds because of their historical importance. In 2015, a Lutheran pastor, Reverend Mark David Johnson, became the vicar (leader) of St. Michael's Church.
During the "Patriot's Week" events in 2005 and 2006, people dressed as Continental Army soldiers from the Battle of Trenton walked past the church. They were careful not to reenact a famous cannon blast inside, to protect the old plaster walls!
Church Buildings and Burial Grounds
The First Church in Hopewell
The very first Church of England building was put up in 1704. It was on "Breese Farm," which later became the site of the New Jersey State Hospital. This area is now part of Ewing Township, NJ.
The North Warren Street Church
The main church building on North Warren Street was built in 1748. It was later renovated to look a bit like Lambeth Palace, with two turrets and a bell tower. As mentioned, the bell tower is gone, but the turrets are still there. Inside the main church, you can see two beautiful Tiffany stained-glass windows.
Important Gravesites
The churchyards at St. Michael's are where many important people from American history are buried:
- Hopewell Churchyard: Mary Trent, who was the wife of William Trent (the person who founded Trenton), is buried here.
- North Warren (Trenton) Churchyard: In the churchyard on North Warren Street, there's a large stone with Masonic symbols. This marks the grave of David Brearley. He was a delegate from New Jersey to the 1787 Constitutional Convention, where the U.S. Constitution was written. He also signed the Constitution and was the first Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court. Also buried here is the niece of Napoleon Bonaparte! She was the daughter of Joseph Bonaparte, who lived nearby in Bordentown, New Jersey.
