St. Peter's Episcopal Church
This picturesque Gothic Revival style building executed in wood is St. Peter's second church. Built in 1849-51, the current structure replaced a smaller church built on this site in 1756-1759. The design of the new church departed from traditional church architecture in America, influenced instead by the form of medieval English churches and the Gothic Revival style. Although usually executed in stone or brick, some church construction took advantage of the availability of lumber in this country to create a less expensive adaptation of the Gothic Revival style in wood, called "Carpenter" Gothic.St. Peter's second and current church was designed by English-born architect Frank Wills (1822-1857). After establishing his practice in America, Wills helped found the New York Ecclesiological Society that promoted ancient Gothic English churches as prototypes for American parish churches of the day. Constructed as a frame, board-and-batten-clad building of the Carpenter Gothic style, St Peter's was one of twenty-four churches Wills designed. The cornerstone was laid in September 1849, but limited funding delayed the building's use until November
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The church was enlarged in 1896 with the addition of the organ chamber and baptistery as two wings forming east and west transepts, ad then again in 1908 with the sacristy in the southeast corner and an organ loft against the north wall. In 1928, the church suffered a serious fire that destroyed much of the organ chamber and chancel area. St. Peter's was subsequently restored, and survives as one of the earliest examples of the Carpenter Gothic style in New Jersey.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Churches & Religion. A significant historical year for this entry is 1849.
Location. 40° 23.474′ N, 74° 23.368′ W. Marker is in Spotswood, New Jersey, in Middlesex County. Marker can be reached from Main Street (County Route 613). Located near the main doors of the Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 505 Main Street, Spotswood NJ 08884, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Spotswood Mills (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); General George Washington (approx. half a mile away); Spotswood’s 1832 Camden & Amboy Railroad Memorial (approx. one mile away); Borough of Helmetta (approx. 1.8 miles away); The Appleby Devoe Memorial Library (approx. 2.1 miles away); Basilone Memorial Bridge
Credits. This page was last revised on July 14, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2016, by Stephen Kokoska of North Brunswick, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 321 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 12, 2016, by Stephen Kokoska of North Brunswick, New Jersey. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
