The Presbyterian Church - Westfield, NJ
Posted by: 
GerIRL
N 40° 39.212 W 074° 20.833
18T E 555186 N 4500501
The Presbyterian Church in Westfield, Union County, NJ. The first organized place of worship in Westfield, dating back to 1728.
Waymark Code: WM5YDN
Location: New Jersey, United States
Date Posted: 03/01/2009
Views: 9
The Presbyterian Church in the West Fields of Elizabethtown was established in 1728, when twelve to eighteen of the early settlers built a log house for worship near what is now Benson Place. A great drum was sounded to call people to services. Before then, many of these God-fearing pioneers would make the all-day trip to Elizabeth to attend services, the men carrying firearms to protect themselves from Indians.
On November 5, 1734 the congregation bought 40 acres, roughly the area bounded now by the back of the church cemetery on Mountain Avenue, Kimball Avenue, the middle of Mindowaskin Park and East Broad Street. The price was 20 British pounds. Though the site we now maintain was reduced or sold over time to about seven acres, it is the site the congregation has occupied ever since.
It is not known when the second building was erected, but it was probably about 1734 and was situated at the intersection of East Broad Street and Mountain Avenue. The third building was set directly behind its predecessor and was first used about 1805. The present building was erected in 1861, slightly up the hill from the previous one and the sanctuary with the large church spire remains to this day as the main building for worship. An additional building known as “Westminster Hall” was originally designated as a lecture hall. It was built in 1853 and has been added to from time to time, with the last renovation taking place in 1908.
The above is taken from the Church's website (
visit link) A more complete history can be found there.
This immediate area featured prominently in the NBC series "Ed".