Central Ward in Newark in Essex County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
“Old First”
American Presbyterian and Reformed Historical Site
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, October 25, 2008
1. "Old First" Marker
First Presbyterian Church organized in 1666, Abraham Pierson, minister. Two edifices preceeded this one, begun in 1787.
Erected 1964 by State of New Jersey. (Marker Number 29.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Colonial Era • Notable Buildings • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the American Presbyterian and Reformed Historic Sites series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1666.
Location. 40° 44.058′ N, 74° 10.358′ W. Marker is in Newark, New Jersey, in Essex County. It is in the Central Ward. Marker is at the intersection of Broad Street and Branford Place, on the right when traveling north on Broad Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 820 Broad Street, Newark NJ 07104, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. First Settlers of Newark (a few steps from this marker); Newark Covenant (a few steps from this marker); Revolutionary War Soldiers and Patriots Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Newark Female Charitable Society (approx. ¼ mile away); This Liberty Pole (approx. ¼ mile away); Elisha Boudinot and General Lafayette
this page online
Regarding “Old First”. Old First Presbyterian Church was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. This church is also one of 445 American Presbyterian and Reformed Historical Sites registered between 1973 and 2003 by the Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS), headquartered in Philadelphia. Approved sites received a metal plaque featuring John Calvin’s seal and the site’s registry number (PHS marker location unknown).
The following text is taken from the Presbyterian Historical Society website:
Organized in 1644 in Branford, CT, the congregation moved to Newark in 1666. The College of New Jersey (later Princeton University) met here under Rev. Aaron Burr for eight years, prior to moving to Princeton in 1756. George Whitefield preached here during the Great Awakening. David Brainerd was ordained at First Church (1744), to become missionary to the Lenni Lenape Indians. His brother, John, was First Church pastor (1755-59), before also becoming missionary to the Lenni Lenapes upon
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, October 25, 2008
2. Marker on Broad Street
The Old First Presbyterian Church
National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form:
Click for more information.
National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form:
Click for more information.
Also see . . . Old First Presbyterian Church (Newark, New Jersey). Wikipedia entry (Submitted on December 12, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, October 25, 2008
3. First Presbyterian Church - "Old First"
During the Revolutionary War, this church was very pro-Patriot. The minister, Rev. Alexander Macwhortwer, fled the city when Washington retreated across New Jersey in November of 1776, but returned later after the British quit the city.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 26, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,226 times since then and 24 times this year. Last updated on August 22, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 26, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
