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History of Christ Church

 

What is now the State of New Jersey was once the home of the Lenni-Lenape Indians but came under Dutch control as part of New Netherlands (the boundaries of which once extended from Albany, New York down to what is today the State of Delaware). The area came under English control in 1664 when the Dutch surrendered their domain to the invading forces of the British military and had the area renamed New York (after James, Duke of York, later King James II of England). From 1674 to 1701, the area below Manhattan was divided in two (known as West and East Jersey) and given as a grant to two proprietors, Lord Berkeley and George Carteret. Both provinces were merged into the royal colony of New Jersey in 1702.

With English control came English settlers, who in the old country had been member of the Church of England. The laity may have claimed a religious identity as Anglicans, but more as an idea than as regular practice. In 1701 English minister Thomas Bray formed the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (SPG) to minister to these new settlers. It is to the SPG that Christ Church owes its existence.

In 1711 a group of Anglicans were holding service in an old broken down townhouse in Piscataway they shared with Baptists. Under the influence of William Skinner, an SPG minister, in 1717 a timber frame church was built, which was completed in 1724. St. James Parish in Piscataway continued to grow, including members from higher up the Raritan River in New Brunswick. The demand was such that a group gathered in 1742 to construct another church, to be called Christ Church, on the New Brunswick side of the River.

Although construction began in 1742, title to the land was not obtained until 1745. This was because one of the original church planners was Philip French, who was the largest land owner in New Brunswick. French did not believe in selling land, but for public buildings that would benefit the community he did provide land leases at nominal rates. For the land to build Christ Church, he charged a yearly rent of “one peppercorn a year, only if asked.” The lease for the land is still on display in the Rector’s office at Christ Church. Throughout the early years, Christ Church remained a mission parish. It would not receive a royal charter as an independent parish until 1761.

History of the Christ Church Plot

Historic Christ Church in New Brunswick, N.J. was organized in 1742. The land on which it sits was leased to the church by Philip French for 2000 years, at a cost of “one peppercorn per year.”

The first church was torn down in 1852, and the present larger building constructed in its place. The church steeple, built in 1773, is the only portion of the original structure that survives.

The third reading of the Declaration of Independence took place in the shadow of the church in 1776. The first organizing meeting of the new Episcopal Church was held here in 1784, as was the organizing convention for the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey.

Throughout its history parish membership included important local figures with national significance (such as American poet Joyce Kilmer and the Johnson and Johnson brothers). It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Graveyard

The earliest documented burial in the Christ Church graveyard is of Catherine Harrison who died at the age of 2 in 1754. Her well preserved headstone is near the west side of the cloister.

The oldest person buried here is Dinah (1760?-1866). She is believed to have been a slave of the Dore family. Her headstone is near the Neilson St. fence on the east side of the graveyard.

Brigadier Gen. Anthony Walton White served as and aide-de-camp to George Washington in the American Revolution. His grave site is near the door to the sanctuary.

Civil War officers Adm. Charles Stuart Boggs (1811-1888) and his son, Lieut. Robert Morris Boggs (1842-1862) are buried on the west side of the graveyard. Robert Boggs died during the Civil War in Harrison’s Landing, VA.

Other Notable People Buried At Christ Church

Episcopal Church notables buried in the graveyard at Christ Church include the Reverend Abraham Beach (1740-1828). Rector of Christ Church from 1767 to 1784, his grave lies within the iron fence near the cloister, along with the graves of his daughter Hannah Rattoone (1770-1848) and grandson Isaac Lawrence (1811-1811).

John Croes (1762-1832), rector of Christ Church from 1801 to 1832 and first Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey, is buried beneath the altar in the sanctuary, but the grave of his wife, Martha is near a walkway on the west side of the church.

Captain Isaac Fisher (1791-1871), commander of a steam boat on the Raritan River, is buried near Neilson St. The grave of New Brunswick treasurer and alderman Henry Blumer (1813-1890) lies in the area to the north of the church, one of the many stones that age and weather have made difficult to read.

Help Maintain the Garden & Graveyard

Those who wish to contribute to the upkeep of the garden and graveyard may send their contributions to the address below, or use our PayPal donation widget to donate directly.

Christ Church New Brunswick
5 Paterson Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1204

Make checks payable to Christ Church New Brunswick and note that your donation is for The Churchyard.

Donations are much appreciated.

Photos, Maps and Listings

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You can help preserve and maintain the gardens and graveyard at Christ Church.

You can help preserve and maintain the gardens and graveyard at Christ Church.