Old Bergen Church

Gazing upon Old Bergen Church, one can’t help but feel a sense of history. This isn’t just any church. It’s the home of the oldest religious congregation in New Jersey. Its story begins in 1660 in the Dutch colony of New Netherland. The settlers of Bergen, just across from what is now Lower Manhattan, needed a place to worship. Old Bergen Church’s first services were held in a humble log schoolhouse. The congregation persevered. They eventually raised funds, through taxes, to build their first official church in 1680. This first structure, built by William Day, was an octagonal sandstone building with a sloping roof. As the congregation grew, so did the need for a larger space. A second church was built in 1773 on the corner of Bergen Avenue and Vroom Street. This sandstone structure marked an important chapter in the church’s history, but its time was limited. The Old Bergen Church we see today, the third structure, was built in 1841. It stands near the sites of its predecessors, on Bergen Avenue and Highland Avenue. Designed by William H. Kirk and Company, and constructed by Clark and Van Nest, this Greek Revival-style building showcases a beautiful brownstone facade. Remarkably, stones from the 1773 church were incorporated into its south wall, creating a tangible link to the past. Inside, mahogany décor and stained-glass windows donated by prominent families like the Van Reypens, Newkirks, and Van Hornes illuminate the sanctuary. One can even find a signed Louis Tiffany window, a testament to the church’s enduring legacy. Over the years, Old Bergen Church continued to evolve. A Sunday school was added in 1900, and a meeting room, named after Reverend Dr. Cornelius Brett, houses artifacts from the earlier churches, including silver communion cups dating back to 1730. A Memorial Chapel, added in 1959, honors the congregation’s members who served in World War II. Old Bergen Church also federated with Trinity United Presbyterian Church in 1970. It further expanded its outreach by helping found the Newport Interfaith Center in the 1980s, serving the diverse religious needs of Jersey City’s growing population. So, as you stand before Old Bergen Church, remember, you’re not just looking at a building. You’re witnessing centuries of faith, resilience, and community woven into the very fabric of Jersey City’s history.