The Cold Spring Presbyterian Church is home to a congregation of worship and mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and West Jersey Presbytery that began in 1714.

Building

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 by

Thomas H. Hughes Thomas Hurst Hughes (January 10, 1769 – November 10, 1839) was a U.S. Representative from New Jersey. Biography Born in the Cold Spring section of Lower Township, New Jersey, on January 10, 1769; he attended the public schools. He moved to ...

, 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., reprinted in "The First Resort," Ben Miller, Exit Zero Publishing, 2009, Cape May, New Jersey. 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. With

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." The Rev.

Samuel Finley Samuel Finley (July 2, 1715 – July 17, 1766) was an Irish-born American Presbyterian minister and academic. He founded the West Nottingham Academy and was the fifth president and an original trustee of the College of New Jersey (later r ...

served as pastor for several years. Finley, who was a graduate of the

Log College The Log College, founded in 1727, was the first theological seminary serving Presbyterians in North America, and was located in what is now Warminster, Pennsylvania. It was founded by William Tennent and operated from 1727 until Tennent's death in ...

, 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 The two hundredth anniversary of the church was celebrated on August 16, 1914.

John Wanamaker John Wanamaker (July 11, 1838December 12, 1922) was an American merchant and religious, civic and political figure, considered by some to be a proponent of advertising and a "pioneer in marketing". He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a ...

, who attended when a child, contributed generously to the endowment fund. President Woodrow Wilson sent a congratulatory letter. File:Cold Spring Presbyterian Church and Cemetery, NJ.jpg, Church and Cemetery File:Cold Spring NJ Old Brick Presby PHS723.jpg, On a pre-1923 postcard File:Cold Spring Presby from SW.JPG, View from the southwest. Note that the rear section was added since the postcard picture

2016 community

The congregation :''...continues to believe that everyone deserves to experience God's love in relevant and authentic way'' :''...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.''

Notable burials

T. Millet Hand Thomas Millet Hand (July 7, 1902 in Cape May, New Jersey – December 26, 1956 in Cold Spring, New Jersey) was an American Republican Party politician who represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Rep ...

(1902–1956), represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1945–1957. *

J. Thompson Baker Jacob Thompson Baker (April 13, 1847 – December 7, 1919) was an American Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party politician from New Jersey who represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district for one term from 1913 to 1915. Earl ...

(1847–1919), represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1913–1915. *

(1769–1839), represented New Jersey's at-large congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1829–1833. *

Charles W. Sandman Jr. Charles William Sandman Jr. (October 23, 1921 – August 26, 1985) was an American Republican Party politician who represented Cape May County in the New Jersey Senate from 1954 to 1966 and represented southern New Jersey in the United States H ...

(1921–1985), represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1913–1915. *Lieutenant Richard Wickes (died June 29, 1776) American Revolutionary War, mortally wounded at the Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet. File:Richard Wickes Gravestone.jpg, Richard Wickes File:Cold Spring Presby stone 1a.JPG, Memucan Hughes, II (1857)Find A Grave memorial for Memucan Hughes, II, 1810-1857
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References

External links