Cold Spring Presbyterian Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location:	Cold Spring, New Jersey
Coordinates:	38°58′35.26″N 74°54′59.11″W / 38.9764611°N 74.9164194°W / 38.9764611; -74.9164194Coordinates: 38°58′35.26″N 74°54′59.11″W / 38.9764611°N 74.9164194°W / 38.9764611; -74.9164194
Built:	1823
Architect:	Thomas Hurst Hughes
Architectural style:	Federal
Governing body:	Private
NRHP Reference#:	91000785 [1]
Added to NRHP:	June 14, 1991

The Cold Spring Presbyterian Church, located on U.S. Route 9 in Cold Spring, New Jersey, is a historic two-story church on the National Register of Historic Places. The current church building, known as "Old Brick", was constructed in 1823^[2] by Thomas H. Hughes, who was also the architect of Congress Hall in Cape May, New Jersey. This red brick building replaced a frame and shingle church erected in 1764, which itself replaced a 1714 log meetinghouse.^[3] The church's cemetery is the site of a 1742 grave (that of Sarah Eldridge Spicer) and of the most Mayflower descendants anywhere outside Massachusetts.

History [edit]

The congregation was founded in 1714, following the settlement of the area by Connecticut Presbyterians. The first regular pastor was the Rev. John Bradner, who served from 1715 until 1721, when he moved to Goshen in Orange County, New York. The Rev. Hughston Hughes served as pastor for one year, starting in 1726, before being dismissed for "his too free use of intoxicating drinks."^[3]

The Rev. Samuel Finley served as pastor for several years. Finley, who was a graduate of the Log College, later became president of the College of New Jersey, the predecessor of Princeton University. Another Log College graduate, the Rev. Daniel Lawrence, served as pastor from 1752 until his death in 1766. His tombstone in the adjacent graveyard was inscribed

In yonder sacred house I spent my breath,
Now, silent, mouldering here I lie in death,
Those silent lips shall wake and yet declare,
A dread amen to truths they publish there^[3]

The two hundredth anniversary of the church was celebrated on August 16, 1914. John Wanamaker, who attended when a child, contributed generously to the endowment fund. President Woodrow Wilson sent a congratulatory letter.^[4]

Notable burials (at the cemetery) [edit]

• T. Millet Hand (1902–1956), represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1945–1957.^[5]
• J. Thompson Baker (1847–1919), represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1913–1915.^[6]
• Thomas H. Hughes (1769–1839), represented New Jersey's at-large congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1829–1833.^[7]
• Charles W. Sandman, Jr. (1921–1985), represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1913–1915.^[8]
• Edgar Page Stites (1836–1921), Hymn Writer.
• Lieutenant Richard Wickes (died June 29, 1776) American Revolutionary War, mortally wounded at the Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet.^[9]

See also [edit]

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Cape May County, New Jersey

References [edit]

External links [edit]

• "Cold Spring Presbyterian Church". Cold Spring Presbyterian Church. 
• Cape May Times Article
• Cold Spring Presbyterian Cemetery at The Political Graveyard
• Cold Spring Presbyterian Cemetery at Find A Grave

v t e National Register of Historic Places in Cape May County, New Jersey Historic districts Cape May Historic District Dennisville Historic District Marshallville Historic District Ocean City Residential Historic District South Tuckahoe Historic District Other properties Avalon Life Saving Station J. Thompson Baker House Battery 223 Thomas Beesley Jr. House Thomas Beesley Sr. House Brandywine Shoal Light Calvary Baptist Church Cape May Light Caribbean Motel Chateau Bleu Motel Owen Coachman House Cold Spring Grange Hall Cold Spring Presbyterian Church Joseph Falkinburg House Fire Control Tower No. 23 Fishing Creek Schoolhouse The Flanders Hotel John Wesley Gandy House Hangar No. 1-United States Naval Air Station Wildwood Hereford Inlet Light George Hildreth House John Holmes House Thomas Leaming House Henry Ludlam House Thomas Ludlam Jr. House Marine National Bank New Asbury Methodist Episcopal Meetinghouse Ocean City 34th Street Station Ocean City City Hall Ocean City Tenth Street Station Octagonal Poultry House Old Cape May County Courthouse Building Jonathan Pyne House Reeves-Iszard-Godfey House Rio Grande Station Saint Peter's-By-The-Sea Episcopal Church TBM-3E "Avenger" Torpedo Bomber Warplane William S. Townsend House Tuckahoe Station U.S. Life-Saving Station No. 35 Whilldin-Miller House Woodbine Brotherhood Synagogue See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Cape May County, New Jersey and List of National Historic Landmarks in New Jersey