How A Log Schoolhouse Became New Jersey’s Oldest Church

There is nothing like digging into New Jersey history, like the story behind the Garden State's oldest church.

What Is The Oldest Church In New Jersey?

The history of the Garden State is rich, and we're going to zoom in on the longest, continuous congregation in New Jersey.

Many say a church is not necessarily a building, but the congregation that worships there, and there is a church in the Garden State that has served a congregation for over 350 years.

In 1660, the settlers of Bergen, NJ, began worshipping in a log schoolhouse, and have continued ever since.

The Old Bergen Church in Jersey City, New Jersey

The buildings have changed over the years, but the story of Old Bergen Church is amazing and a true piece of New Jersey history.

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Over the years, there have been three structures erected, the octagonal church, a second church on the corner of Bergen Ave. and Vroom St,  and the newest one, built in 1842.

If you enter now and look at the south corner of the church, you will see stones that were from the church built in the late 1700s.

 Other Old Churches In New Jersey

There are only two other churches in New Jersey that were built before 1700, one in Perth Amboy and one in Manalapan.

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The old church in Manalapan, Old Tennent Presbyterian Church, dates to 1692, and Perth Amboy's St Peter's Episcopal Church (1685).