Friends of Old Broad Street Church

Our mission is to preserve the Old Broad Street Church in its excellent condition as one of Bridgeton's historic buildings and to keep it active as a house of worship and location for community activities. Old Broad Street was the first house of worship erected in Bridgeton (or Bridge Town, as it was then).

The historic building is owned by the First Presbyterian Church, but in many ways it belongs to the community. So, our group is composed of First Presbyterian members and others in the community who are committed to preserving and maintaining Old Broad Street Church.

Read about the current state of our grant proposals for preserving the building and putting on a new roof: click here.

Quick facts about Old Broad Street Church

This Presbyterian meeting house is one of the best preserved 18th Century buildings in New Jersey.
During the 1770's, plans were made for the building of the church, but the outbreak of the Revolution delayed the project.
In 1791, Mark Miller, a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers), donated the lot on which the church stands.
The original cost of the church was $4,280, and some of the funds were raised by means of a lottery.
The bricks for the structure were handmade on the construction site.
The main door, near the twin stairways, faced onto King's Highway. Later the road was rerouted to the opposite side of the building.
A tuning fork was the only musical instrument used in the church's worship services.
The wine glass pulpit is situated to command a view of the entire church, including the balcony.
Offerings are still received with the original collection bags on poles.
Light for the building was supplied by whale oil lamps, which are still in place.
Above the pulpit the "All-seeing Eye of God" is molded into the plaster.
Behind the pulpit is a large Palladian window similar to one in George Washington's home in Virginia.
The two Franklin stoves were cast at Atsion (pronounced at-sign) Furnace in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Atsion is a sister-village to the better-known Batsto.
The pews in the east gallery have examples of early graffiti probably carved by students of the private academies of old Bridge Town.
In the rear gallery are boxed pews said to have been used by slaves. Slaves are also buried in the graveyard.
The boxes and pews were bid on by families of the church. The ones in front were "owned" by the wealthier families, and several of their doors bear brass plates with the names of prominent Bridge Town residents.
In 1797, the building was used for a murder trial because it was the largest structure in town.
The graveyard is the resting place for some veterans of the Revolution. Patriots buried there include General James Giles, General Ebenezer Elmer, and members of the Potter family.

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