First Congregational Church (Chester, New Jersey)

First Congregational Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
New Jersey Register of Historic Places
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Location	30 Hillside Road Chester Borough, New Jersey
Coordinates	40°47′14″N74°41′45″W / 40.78722°N 74.69583°W / 40.78722; -74.69583
Area	2.3 acres (0.93 ha)
Built	1856 (1856)
Architectural style	Greek Revival
NRHP reference No.	77000892 [1]
NJRHP No.	2100 [2]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	August 10, 1977
Designated NJRHP	August 2, 1976

First Congregational Church is a historic church located at 30 Hillside Road in Chester Borough, New Jersey. The congregation was founded in 1740. ^[3] The church building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 10, 1977, for its significance in architecture, art, and religion. ^[4]

History and description

The Greek Revival temple church was built in 1856. It is the third building used by the congregation; the first was built in 1747, and the second in 1803. ^[5] It features a full portico with pediment and four Doric columns. The interior decoration was painted 1857–1870 with Trompe-l'œil style. In 1873, an Opius 128 organ built by the J. H & C. S. Odell firm was installed. ^[4]

Social Action

The church has fundraised for a variety of causes, ^[6] including:

• Dayspring Ministries, a Christian organisation which supports a school, orphanage, food program and family health clinic in haiti
• Good News Home for Women, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for adult women
• Market Street Mission, which provides support to the "homeless, helpless, and hopeless"
• Carmen Ministries, who organise bible study sessions for incarcerated and ex-incarcerated men to help improve their lives and stop repeat offences
• Child Evangelism Fellowship, who provide opportunities to connect young people with God
• Free food to members of the local community
• Support for local people living in desperate poverty

Gallery

• 
  Front door with church history above
• 
  Morris County historical information
• 
  Chester Cemetery
• 
  Nathan Cooper (1751–1834) family monument

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Morris County, New Jersey
• Nathan A. Cooper
• Bergen County, New Jersey

References

1. "National Register Information System – (#77000892)". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
2. "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Morris County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Historic Preservation Office. February 12, 2018. p. 3.
3. "About Us – wwp" . Retrieved October 2, 2022.
4. Karschner, Terry (August 10, 1977). "NRHP Nomination: First Congregational Church". National Park Service. "Accompanying 4 photos, from 1976".
5. "History of the First Congregational Church". First Congregation Church of Chester, NJ.
6. "Missions We Support – wwp" . Retrieved October 2, 2022.

External links

• Official website
• "First Congregational Church". The Historical Marker Database.