House of Prayer Episcopal Church and Rectory

The House of Prayer Episcopal Church and Rectory is a religious building with its residence at the corner of Broad and State Streets in Newark. The ensemble displays Gothic Revival features with local sandstone construction and hand-hewn timber framing throughout.

The rectory began as a private residence around 1710 and was acquired by the church in 1849 when it became the official rector's home. This conversion marked the start of its role within Newark's religious community.

The rectory hosted experiments with celluloid film that would shape early cinema, connecting this religious building to a technological breakthrough that changed entertainment. Visitors can sense how innovation sometimes happens in unexpected places beyond dedicated laboratories or studios.

The building sits at the corner of Broad and State Streets in downtown Newark, near Interstate 280 with easy pedestrian access. The urban location means you can reach it on foot from nearby parking and transit options.

The adjacent highway caused vibrations that required structural reinforcement work on the rectory building in 2017 to keep it stable. This modern intervention reveals how a historic place must adapt to contemporary pressures.

Location: New Jersey

GPS coordinates: 40.74810,-74.17140

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:44