Trinity Episcopal Church

608 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102

Offices: 24 Rector Street
Newark, NJ 07102
973-622-3505

1733 - Present

Images

Official Web Site

Library of Congress images

Church Building Data Page

Newspaper Articles:

December 25, 1881 - Trinity Church Improvements
April 22, 1906 - Newark's First Soldiers' Hospital - Trinity Episcopal Church Late in 1776

In 1733, Newark suffered a torrential rainstorm that lasted several days. It was after this storm that Colonel Josiah Ogden, a faithful member of the First Church, hitched up his horse and harvested his wheat. If not harvested, the wheat would have spoiled. Unfortunately it was a Sunday and word of this deed quickly got around. Colonel Ogden was disciplined for Sabbath-breaking. Ogden, the son of Elizabeth Swaine, did not take this harsh criticism and punishment lightly. The controversy was long and bitter. Finally Colonel Ogden withdrew from the church stating "I'll have a church to attend, if I have to build one."

It just so happened that Episcopal missionaries were working in New Jersey. Because of this, correspondence between Colonel Ogden, his followers and the Synod of Philadelphia began in 1734. While doing this, the bitter religious controversies in Newark continued. "This separation" says Dr. McWhorter, "was the origin of the greatest animosity and alienation between friends and townsmen, Christian, neighbors, and relatives, that this town ever beheld. The storm of religious separation and rage wrought tumultuously. The openly declared Episcopalians were few, in comparison of the Presbyterians, yet there were two leaders, one on each side, who were pretty well poised in respect of point of abilities, wealth, connection, and ambition. This religious brand kindled a flame which was not extinguished till the conclusion of the late war." The two leaders referred to where Colonel Ogden and the Rev. Joseph Webb, sixth pastor of the First Church. The war was the Revolutionary War. The animosities died down during the Revolutionary War when both churches were used as hospitals. It was during this time that the seats in the church were torn up and chimneys were erected in the middle of the auditorium. But before this happened, the Rev. Joseph Webb was dismissed from the pulpit. Not long afterward he and his son were both drowned in crossing Saybrook Ferry on the Connecticut River.

The first charter was granted on February 4, 1746 and a year later it was suspended. The present charter was granted in 1748 by George II. The original church structure was erected in 1733-34. It was made of hewn stone, 63 feet long by 45 feet wide and 27 feet high. The steeple was 95 feet high and 20 feet square.

Colonel Josiah Ogden died before the Revolutionary War and is buried somewhere in the Old Burying-ground. (These internment's were later moved to Fairmount Cemetery).

The original church building was competed in 1746. The site of the church, according to tradition, was granted by the town of Newark in the Training Place (Military Park). Its original structure, destroyed by fire in 1804, was rebuilt and refurbished in 1810. Its white steeple stood 168 feet facing Broad Street. The church became the Cathedral for the Newark Diocese in 1942. In 1966 the church was united with St. Philip's Episcopal Church and became known as Trinity and St. Philip's Cathedral in 1992.

From: Social Services Directory of Newark 1912

Gives relief to its own destitute members and in instances to nonmembers. Christ Church of Harrison is maintained by church. Conducts a Boys' Club. Girl's Friendly Society House, 28 Centre Street. Has neighborhood meetings in special buildings, such as Trinity House, Rector Street.

From: Rider's Newark 1916

This, the first Episcopal church in Newark, was established mainly through a prominent townsman, Col. Josiah Ogden (1679-1763), who was angered at having been disciplined by the Presbyterian church for having taken in his wheat on Sunday, when a storm threatened.

The corner-stone of the present (second) edifice was laid in 1809. Of the earlier building the base is still standing, with walls five feet thick. Also the old front, with Grecian portico supported on missive stone pillars, remains today as first constructed.

Inscription erected in 1914 by the New Jersey Society of the Sons of the Revolution: "Commemorating the fact that Washington and his army passed beneath the shadow of this tower in masterly retreat, November, 1776, across New Jersey to the hills beyond the Delaware, where they gathered strength for the blow struck at Trenton and Camden."

The church contains a bronze medallion portrait of Phillips Brooks presented by the sculptor, William Clark Noble, in 1906.

Reverends Addresses LDS FHC
Microfilm #'s
Archive
Information

 

Reverend From To
Edward Vaughan (d. ) 1729 Unknown
John Beach Unknown Unknown
Jonathan Arnold Unknown Unknown
Isaac Brown (d. ) 1761 Unknown
Uzal Ogden (d. ) 1788 1805
Joseph Willard 1806 1813
Lewis P. Bayard (d. Sept. 2, 1840 in Malta) May, 1813 1820
Henry P. Powers June 3, 1821 1830
John Croes Jr. 1830 1830
Matthew H. Henderson October 11, 1830 February 25, 1856
Edmund Neville July 13, 1857 November 26, 1862
John C. Eccleston December 25, 1862 March 5, 1866
Matson Meier-Smith April 11, 1866 March 8, 1871
William R. Nicholson January, 1872 December, 1874
William Wilberforce Newton February 5, 1874 October 30, 1876
J. Houston Eccleston November 16, 1876 December 6, 1883
E. B. Boggs 1884 1884
J. Sanders Reed November 29, 1884 November 9, 1889
Lewis S. Osborne December 3, 1889 January 27, 1912
Albert W. H. Thompson 1909 1911
Mercer Green Johnston December 1, 1912 1916
Alden L. Bennett 1917 1917
Arthur Demper 1918 1942/51


Address From To
157 Broad Street 1733 1869
608 Broad Street (same location as above, street number change) 1870 Present


LDS FHC Microfilm #'s

Information Starting Year Ending Year LDS Microfilm #
Various Church Records
1696 1966 0946020
0946021
0946022
0946023
0946024
0946025
0946026
0946027
0946028
0946029
0946030
0946031

Archive Information (Last Known location)

Church Records from 1696 to 1966 are in the possession of the New Jersey Historical Society.