Cold Spring Presbyterian Church

The Cold Spring Presbyterian Church (www.coldspringchurch.com) is home to a congregation of worship and mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and West Jersey Presbytery that began in 1714, and continues to believe that everyone deserves to experience God's love in relevant and authentic ways. The thriving faith community began a community-focused transformational initiative in 2016. Cold Spring Presbyterian Church delivers spiritual resources and experiences that are centered in God’s love and proclaim the abundant life through Jesus Christ to make greater Cape May a better place through worship, activities, events, and other ministries.

Cold Spring Presbyterian Church
Location780 Seashore Road
Cold Spring, New Jersey
Coordinates38°58′35.26″N 74°54′59.11″W
Built1823
ArchitectThomas Hurst Hughes
Architectural styleFederal
NRHP reference No.91000785[1]
NJRHP No.999[2]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJune 14, 1991
Designated NJRHPMay 1, 1991

The historic two-story red brick building located at 780 Seashore Road in the Cold Spring section of Lower Township, in Cape May County, New Jersey. The current church building, known as "Old Brick", was constructed in 1823[3] by Thomas H. Hughes, who was also the architect of Congress Hall in Cape May, New Jersey. This red brick building replaced a frame and shingle church erected in 1764, which itself replaced a 1714 log meetinghouse.[4] The church's cemetery, Cold Spring Presbyterian Cemetery, is the site of a 1742 grave (that of Sarah Eldridge Spicer) and of the most Mayflower descendants anywhere outside Massachusetts. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 14, 1991 for its significance in settlement, architecture, religion, and government.[5]

History

The congregation was founded in 1714, following the settlement of the area by Connecticut Presbyterians. The first regular pastor was the Rev. John Bradner, who served from 1715 until 1721, when he moved to Goshen in Orange County, New York. The Rev. Hughston Hughes served as pastor for one year, starting in 1726, before being dismissed for "his too free use of intoxicating drinks."[4]

The Rev. Samuel Finley served as pastor for several years. Finley, who was a graduate of the Log College, later became president of the College of New Jersey, the predecessor of Princeton University. Another Log College graduate, the Rev. Daniel Lawrence, served as pastor from 1752 until his death in 1766. His tombstone in the adjacent graveyard was inscribed

In yonder sacred house I spent my breath,
Now, silent, mouldering here I lie in death,
Those silent lips shall wake and yet declare,
A dread amen to truths they publish there[4]

The two hundredth anniversary of the church was celebrated on August 16, 1914. John Wanamaker, who attended when a child, contributed generously to the endowment fund. President Woodrow Wilson sent a congratulatory letter.[6]

  • Church and Cemetery
  • On a pre-1923 postcard
  • View from the southwest. Note that the rear section was added since the postcard picture

Notable burials
Cold Spring Presbyterian Cemetery
Veterans Field of Honor at the cemetery
Details
Find a GraveCold Spring Presbyterian Cemetery

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Cape May County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Historic Preservation Office. March 27, 2019. p. 4.
  3. "Old Brick; About Us". Cold Spring Presbyterian Church. Archived from the original on 2008-08-28. Retrieved 2012-06-03.
  4. "Famous Old New Jersey Church, A Presbyterian Congregation Formed 182 Years Ago". The New York Times. May 3, 1896., reprinted in "The First Resort," Ben Miller, Exit Zero Publishing, 2009, Cape May, New Jersey.
  5. Craig, Robert (November 20, 1990). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Cold Spring Presbyterian Church". National Park Service. With accompanying 25 pictures
  6. "Church 200 Years Old". The New York Times. August 17, 1914. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  7. Thomas Millet Hand, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 16, 2007.
  8. Jacob Thompson, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 16, 2007.
  9. Thomas Hurst Hughes, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 16, 2007.
  10. Charles William Sandman, Jr., Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 16, 2007.
  11. "Revolutionary War Sites in Cape May, New Jersey".
  12. Find A Grave memorial for Memucan Hughes, II, 1810-1857
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