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| location = 61 [[Nassau Street (Princeton)|Nassau Street]], [[Princeton, New Jersey]] 08542
| location = 61 [[Nassau Street (Princeton)|Nassau Street]], [[Princeton, New Jersey]] 08542
| denomination = [[Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)]]
| denomination = [[Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)]]
| previous denomination =
| previous denomination =
| churchmanship = [[Liberal Christianity|Liberal Protestant]]
| churchmanship = [[Liberal Christianity|Liberal Protestant]]
| membership = 1,267 (2012)
| membership = 1,267 (2012)
| attendance = 434 (2012)<ref>{{cite web|title=Statistical Snapshot for Nassau|url=http://apps.pcusa.org/tenyeartrends/report/10190/all_statistics.jsp|publisher=Presbyterian Mission Agency|accessdate=13 May 2014}}</ref>
| attendance = 434 (2012)<ref>{{cite web|title=Statistical Snapshot for Nassau|url=http://apps.pcusa.org/tenyeartrends/report/10190/all_statistics.jsp|publisher=Presbyterian Mission Agency|access-date=13 May 2014}}</ref>
| website = {{URL|http://nassauchurch.org|nassauchurch.org}}
| website = {{URL|http://nassauchurch.org|nassauchurch.org}}
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| materials =
| materials =


| presbytery = [[Presbytery of New Brunswick|New Brunswick]]
| presbytery = Coastlands
| synod = [[Synod of the Northeast|Northeast]]
| synod = [[Synod of the Northeast|Northeast]]
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}}
}}


The '''Nassau Presbyterian Church''' is a historic congregation located at 61 Nassau Street in [[Princeton, New Jersey]], United States. It has been the home of many important figures in the history of [[Presbyterianism]] in the United States as a result of its proximity to [[Princeton University]] and the [[Princeton Theological Seminary]]. The church operates the [[Princeton Cemetery]] and is a contributing property to the [[Princeton Historic District (Princeton, New Jersey)|Princeton Historic District]]. The current pastor is The Reverend Dr. David A. Davis.
The '''Nassau Presbyterian Church''' is a historic congregation located at 61 Nassau Street in [[Princeton, New Jersey]], United States. It has been the home of many important figures in the history of [[Presbyterianism]] in the United States as a result of its proximity to [[Princeton University]] and the [[Princeton Theological Seminary]]. The church operates the [[Princeton Cemetery]] and is a contributing property to the [[Princeton Historic District (Princeton, New Jersey)|Princeton Historic District]]. The current pastor is the Reverend Dr. David A. Davis.


==History==
==History==
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===Witherspoon Church and Second Church===
===Witherspoon Church and Second Church===
As time progressed, divisions within the church occurred and the church spun off two local Presbyterian Churches. After the building burned down in 1835 church notes indicate that African-American members were encouraged to leave the congregation leading to the founding of Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church.<ref>{{cite news|title=Presbyterian Churches To Hold Joint Services|url=http://papersofprinceton.princeton.edu/princetonperiodicals/cgi-bin/princetonperiodicals?a=d&d=TownTopics19900124-01.2.138&srpos=2&e=-------en-20--1--txt-IN-%22Nassau+Presbyterian%22+history----#|accessdate=19 April 2014|newspaper=The Town Topics|date=24 January 1990}}</ref> Later that same decade the [[Nassau Christian Center|Second Presbyterian Church]] was chartered by those who sought a less formal worship style and desired different pastoral leadership. Efforts to merge the three congregations back into one were attempted at various times over the years including an effort led by [[Woodrow Wilson]].
As time progressed, divisions within the church occurred and the church spun off two local Presbyterian Churches. After the building burned down in 1835 church notes indicate that African-American members were encouraged to leave the congregation leading to the founding of Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church.<ref>{{cite news|title=Presbyterian Churches To Hold Joint Services|url=http://papersofprinceton.princeton.edu/princetonperiodicals/cgi-bin/princetonperiodicals?a=d&d=TownTopics19900124-01.2.138&srpos=2&e=-------en-20--1--txt-IN-%22Nassau+Presbyterian%22+history----#|access-date=19 April 2014|newspaper=The Town Topics|date=24 January 1990}}</ref> Later that same decade the [[Nassau Christian Center|Second Presbyterian Church]] was chartered by those who sought a less formal worship style and desired different pastoral leadership. Efforts to merge the three congregations back into one were attempted at various times over the years including an effort led by [[Woodrow Wilson]].{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}


===Nassau Presbyterian Church===
===Nassau Presbyterian Church===
In the early 1970s, First Church and St. Andrews (the new name of Second Church) were without installed pastors. The churches decided to merge but were concerned about one church absorbing the other. The decision was made to create a new church out of the two (the Witherspoon Church was invited to the merger but declined) and Nassau Presbyterian Church was chartered in 1973. The initial congregation had 2,335 members with 1,759 and 576 coming from First and St. Andrew's, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Brief Account of the Heritage and Creation of Nassau Presbyterian Church|url=http://www.nassauchurch.org/home/history.php|accessdate=13 May 2014}}</ref> The former building of St. Andrews was sold in 1978 to the a new church plant of the [[Assemblies of God]], the [[Nassau Christian Center]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Nassau Christian Center History|url=http://www.nassauchristian.org/ncc/welcome/ncc-history/|accessdate=13 May 2014}}</ref>
In the early 1970s, First Church and St. Andrews (the new name of Second Church) were without installed pastors. The churches decided to merge but were concerned about one church absorbing the other. The decision was made to create a new church out of the two (the Witherspoon Church was invited to the merger but declined) and Nassau Presbyterian Church was chartered in 1973. The initial congregation had 2,335 members with 1,759 and 576 coming from First and St. Andrew's, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Brief Account of the Heritage and Creation of Nassau Presbyterian Church|url=http://www.nassauchurch.org/home/history.php|access-date=13 May 2014}}</ref> The former building of St. Andrews was sold in 1978 to a new church plant of the [[Assemblies of God]], the [[Nassau Christian Center]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Nassau Christian Center History|url=http://www.nassauchristian.org/ncc/welcome/ncc-history/|access-date=13 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513100945/http://www.nassauchristian.org/ncc/welcome/ncc-history/|archive-date=13 May 2014}}</ref>


The church is part of the national [[Presbyterian Church USA]].
The church is part of the national [[Presbyterian Church USA]].


==Notable ministers and members==
==Notable ministers and members==
{{More citations needed section|date=September 2018}}
*[[Grover Cleveland]]
*[[Grover Cleveland]]
*Reverend [[Jonathan Edwards (theologian)|Jonathan Edwards]]
*[[Jonathan Edwards (theologian)|Jonathan Edwards]]
*[[John Witherspoon]]
*[[John Witherspoon]]
*[[Charles Hodge]]
*[[Charles Hodge]]
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*[[Woodrow Wilson]]
*[[Woodrow Wilson]]
*[[John Gresham Machen]]
*[[John Gresham Machen]]
*[[Charles R. Erdman]]
*[[Charles R. Erdman, Sr.]]
*[[Bill Bradley]]<ref name="McPhee 1999 p. ">{{cite book | last=McPhee | first=J. | title=A Sense of Where You Are: Bill Bradley at Princeton | publisher=Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) | year=1999 | isbn=978-0-374-70871-9 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RC2TZw-B0qQC | access-date=2022-05-20 | page=}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Presbyterian churches in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Presbyterian churches in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) churches]]
[[Category:Presbyterian Church (USA) churches]]
[[Category:Churches in Princeton, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Churches in Princeton, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Charles Steadman Buildings]]
[[Category:Charles Steadman Buildings]]
[[Category:Historic district contributing properties in Mercer County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Historic district contributing properties in Mercer County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Presidential churches in the United States]]

Latest revision as of 18:38, 2 May 2024

Nassau Presbyterian Church
A picture of the front of Nassau Presbyterian Church
Map
Location61 Nassau Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08542
CountryUnited States
DenominationPresbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
ChurchmanshipLiberal Protestant
Membership1,267 (2012)
Weekly attendance434 (2012)[1]
Websitenassauchurch.org
History
Former name(s)First Presbyterian Church of Princeton
Founded1766
EventsBurned down 1813 and 1835
Architecture
Architect(s)Charles Steadman
StyleGreek Revival
Completed1836
Administration
SynodNortheast
PresbyteryCoastlands
Clergy
Senior pastor(s)David A. Davis
Nassau Presbyterian Church
A map of Mercer County, New Jersey
A map of Mercer County, New Jersey
A map of Mercer County, New Jersey
A map of Mercer County, New Jersey
A map of Mercer County, New Jersey
A map of Mercer County, New Jersey
Coordinates40°20′56.4″N 74°39′38.5″W / 40.349000°N 74.660694°W / 40.349000; -74.660694
Part ofPrinceton Historic District (ID75001143[2])
Added to NRHP27 June 1975

The Nassau Presbyterian Church is a historic congregation located at 61 Nassau Street in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. It has been the home of many important figures in the history of Presbyterianism in the United States as a result of its proximity to Princeton University and the Princeton Theological Seminary. The church operates the Princeton Cemetery and is a contributing property to the Princeton Historic District. The current pastor is the Reverend Dr. David A. Davis.

History

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First Presbyterian Church on a vintage postcard.
Second Presbyterian Church on a vintage postcard.

First Church

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The Presbyterians of central New Jersey had two places of worship in either Lawrenceville or Kingston. In 1756 the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) opened in Princeton and services were held in Nassau Hall. A few years later funds were collected to build a church to serve the growing population of students and teachers. The newly constructed First Presbyterian Church of Princeton opened in 1766. John Witherspoon, the President of the College, began his 25 years tenure as pastor of First Church in 1768.

Witherspoon Church and Second Church

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As time progressed, divisions within the church occurred and the church spun off two local Presbyterian Churches. After the building burned down in 1835 church notes indicate that African-American members were encouraged to leave the congregation leading to the founding of Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church.[3] Later that same decade the Second Presbyterian Church was chartered by those who sought a less formal worship style and desired different pastoral leadership. Efforts to merge the three congregations back into one were attempted at various times over the years including an effort led by Woodrow Wilson.[citation needed]

Nassau Presbyterian Church

[edit]

In the early 1970s, First Church and St. Andrews (the new name of Second Church) were without installed pastors. The churches decided to merge but were concerned about one church absorbing the other. The decision was made to create a new church out of the two (the Witherspoon Church was invited to the merger but declined) and Nassau Presbyterian Church was chartered in 1973. The initial congregation had 2,335 members with 1,759 and 576 coming from First and St. Andrew's, respectively.[4] The former building of St. Andrews was sold in 1978 to a new church plant of the Assemblies of God, the Nassau Christian Center.[5]

The church is part of the national Presbyterian Church USA.

Notable ministers and members

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ "Statistical Snapshot for Nassau". Presbyterian Mission Agency. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  2. ^ "Princeton Historic District". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  3. ^ "Presbyterian Churches To Hold Joint Services". The Town Topics. 24 January 1990. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  4. ^ "A Brief Account of the Heritage and Creation of Nassau Presbyterian Church". Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  5. ^ "Nassau Christian Center History". Archived from the original on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  6. ^ McPhee, J. (1999). A Sense of Where You Are: Bill Bradley at Princeton. Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR). ISBN 978-0-374-70871-9. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
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