First Presbyterian Church, church in Trenton, New Jersey
First Presbyterian Church is a worship building and cemetery in Trenton, New Jersey, that has served the community since the early 1700s. The current structure, built between 1834 and 1839, features brick walls, tall windows, and a distinctive steeple, with burial grounds containing graves from the 1730s onward.
The congregation established its first house of worship here in 1708, making it the area's oldest dedicated place of prayer. The current building was constructed between 1834 and 1839, with the historic cemetery beneath it, requiring some older graves to be relocated during construction.
The church reflects Presbyterian tradition and served as a community gathering place beyond religious services. The cemetery displays gravestones in varying styles, showing how burial customs and memorial practices changed across different periods of the city's life.
The church and cemetery grounds are accessible for viewing during daylight hours, with the burial grounds being easy to walk through. For details about visiting hours or guided tours, contact local Trenton tourism offices or the historic preservation organizations managing the site.
The building was literally constructed over the older cemetery, with some graves lying directly beneath the church structure itself. This unusual overlay of burial ground and worship space reflects how urban congregations navigated spatial constraints when renewing their sacred sites.
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