First Presbyterian Church and Cemetery, church in Woodbridge, New Jersey
The First Presbyterian Church and Cemetery is a house of worship with an adjoining burial ground in Woodbridge Township, featuring Greek Revival architecture from the early 1800s. The brick structure built in 1803 stands beside a cemetery in use since 1690, encompassing about 5 acres with gravestones made of sandstone, limestone, and granite.
The congregation was established in 1675, making it one of the oldest Presbyterian groups in the region. The current brick building from 1803 was designed by Jonathan Freeman, a church member, replacing the original meeting house on the site.
The church and cemetery have served as spiritual gathering places for the community for hundreds of years. Gravestones display religious carvings such as angel heads and skull imagery, reflecting how early residents expressed their faith through these markers.
The grounds are well-maintained and easy to explore on foot, with tall trees and open lawns that invite reflection. On sunny days the site feels particularly welcoming, and church staff can assist visitors with tours and stories about those buried there.
The cemetery contains the oldest gravestone in Middlesex County dating from 1690 and holds notable figures including General Nathaniel Heard, who led militia forces during the American Revolution. Mary Compton Campbell, the first European-born resident of Woodbridge, also rests here, having lived to age 67.
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