St. John's Episcopal Church (Jersey City, New Jersey) Explained

Saint John's Episcopal Church in Jersey City, New Jersey is a disused church of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark. Located on Summit Avenue in Bergen Hill, it is considered a masterwork of 19th-century ecclesiastical architecture. The building, which was named a municipal landmark in 2013, has not housed a congregation since 1994, and has fallen into disrepair. There are proposals to convert the buildings on the grounds to housing.[1] [2]

History

Erected in 1870, the Gothic Revival-influenced building was designed by John Remson Onderdonk, a local architect and practitioner of the ecclesiological philosophy, and is considered to be a masterpiece of 19th-century ecclesiastic architecture by the city's landmarks conservancy.[3] Its façade replicates a portion of the Chartres Cathedral in Southern France.

It once housed the largest Episcopal congregation in New Jersey, its members included many of the leading citizens of Jersey City. It was called the "Millionaire's Church".[4] In 1914, much of the church was damaged by fire,[5] but was elaborately restored. By the mid-twentieth century, reflecting the demographic change in the city, its congregation became more working class. From 1960 to 1968 the church was a center of the civil rights and anti-Vietnam war movements during the rectorship of the Reverend Robert W. Castle who preached a social gospel and drew attention to the plight of the city's poor.[6] [7]

The church has not housed an Episcopal congregation since 1994.[8] [9] [10]

Historic designation

The Bergen Hill Historic District,[11] of which the church is a contributing property, was established as a municipal historic district in 1986 and identified in New Jersey's state historic preservation office (SHPO) in 1989/1991 (ID#1481).[12] In 2008, the SHPO issued a certificate of eligibility (ID#4986) for listing individually on both the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places. Attempts made in 2007/2008 to have the church designated a local landmark were unsuccessful, the motion having been tabled by the Jersey City City Council.[13] [14] When it appeared that the diocese was moving to demolish the building, a campaign was begun to convince the city council to re-visit the issue[15] which it did in June 2013 and adopted a measure granting landmark status.[16] [17]

Preservation and demolition controversy

St. John's has not been in regular use since 1994. In 2004 Preservation New Jersey named St. John's one of the most endangered historic sites in the state.[18] There is concern that if the building continues to deteriorate it will be necessary for it to be demolished. The Jersey Landmarks Conservancy, a preservation group, believes that the Diocese of Newark has intentionally neglected the building in order to demolish it.[19] The stained glass windows, altar, and other items were removed in 1997.[8] In January 2012, the church's altar was offered for sale on eBay.[20] The diocese maintains that the preservation of the building is too costly and that no serious offers to purchase it have been forthcoming.

In March 2013 the City of Jersey City served the diocese a Notice of Unsafe Structure, after which it contracted an asbestos abatement work and applied for a permit for demolition.[14] Its designation as a local landmark requires that special approval be given before the building can be razed.[16] The diocese disagrees with the landmarking.[17] [21] In 2015 it was decided to convert the property to residential spaces, including construction of new buildings and conversion of the church.[22]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Plans for Development Around Jersey City's St. John's Episcopal Church Now Call for 82 Units. Jared. Kofsky. January 11, 2021. Jersey Digs.
  2. Web site: Landmark Jersey City church to be restored as part of plan for new apartment complex. Patrick. Villanova. The Jersey Journal. January 28, 2021. NJ Advance Media.
  3. Web site: St John's Episcopal Church . Campaigns . Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy . 2013-06-20.
  4. News: Coyne . Kevin . December 9, 2007 . Afterlife Hard for Once-Grand Church . The New York Times . 2013-06-19 .
  5. News: October 26, 1925 . Jersey City Church Destroyed by Fire; Wealthy St. John's Congregation Loses Everything but the Altar Cross. . The New York Times . 2013-06-20 .
  6. News: Fox . Margalit . 2012-11-06 . Robert W. Castle Jr., Outspoken Harlem Priest and Accidental Actor, Dies at 83 . . 2012-11-25.
  7. News: Machcinski . Anthony J. . 2012-11-07 . Civil rights activist Rev. Robert W. Castle Jr. dies in Vermont home . . . 2012-11-25.
  8. News: Hortillosa . Summer Dawn . May 5, 2013 . Questions Arise over Asbestos Removal at St John's Episcopal Church . Jersey City Independent . 2013-06-20 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130712095603/http://www.jerseycityindependent.com:80/2013/05/29/questions-arise-over-asbestos-removal-at-st-johns-episcopal-church . 2013-07-12.
  9. Web site: Greenagel . Frank L. . 2001 . St John's Free Protestant Episcopal Church . . 2013-06-19.
  10. Web site: St John's Episcopal Church . Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy . 2013-06-19.
  11. Web site: Jersey City - Bergen Hill Historical District. www.cityofjerseycity.org.
  12. Web site: New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Hudson County . NJ DEP - Historic Preservation Office . 2012-02-22.
  13. News: October 7, 2008 . Jersey City Council tables St. John's Church landmark vote . The Jersey Journal . 2013-06-19.
  14. Web site: May 23, 2013 . Fact sheet: St. John's Church in Jersey City . Episcopal Diocese of Newark . 2013-06-19.
  15. News: Hortillosa . Summer Dawn . June 17, 2013 . Locals Rally for St. John's Episcopal Church to Be Landmarked . Jersey City Independent . 2013-06-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140228001436/http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/2013/06/19/locals-rally-for-st-johns-episcopal-church-to-be-landmarked/ . 2014-02-28.
  16. News: McDonald . Terrence T. . June 19, 2013 . 143-year-old Jersey City church named a local landmark . The Jersey Journal . 2013-06-19 .
  17. News: Hunger . Matt . June 20, 2013 . Council Votes to Designate Church That Helped in Civil Rights Movement Historic Landmark . Jersey City Independent . 2013-06-20 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140228002221/http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/2013/06/20/council-votes-to-designate-church-that-helped-in-civil-rights-movement-historic-landmark/ . 2014-02-28.
  18. Web site: 2009–2010 . St. Johns Episcopal Church . 10 Most Endangered Historic Sites in New Jersey 2010 . Preservation New Jersey . 2013-06-18.
  19. News: McDonald . Terrance T. . May 25, 2013 . Jersey City preservationists fear that demolition of 'landmark' church already may have begun . The Jersey Journal . 2013-06-19.
  20. News: McDonald . Terrence T. . January 16, 2012 . Altar from St. John's Episcopal Church in Jersey City ends up on eBay for $49,500 . The Jersey Journal . 2013-06-19 .
  21. Web site: Nicholson . Nina . June 20, 2013 . Response of diocesan Trustees to landmarking of St. John's in Jersey City . The Diocese of Newark . 2013-06-20.
  22. Web site: 145-year-old Jersey City church to become condo complex. McDonald. Terrence T.. 20 November 2015. The Jersey Journal.

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