The authoritative source on
  early churches of New Jersey

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We've created a database and photographic inventory on more than half the 18th & 19th century churches in the state and add to it each month. We welcome and solicit all contributions and suggestions from our visitors.

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   Photographic Inventory

Stanhope Presbyterian Church
Stanhope, Sussex County

 

The design of this small Presbyterian church in Stanhope is rather interesting. The building committee opted for a Greek Revival motif during the height of its popularity, but the pediment, cornice and the pilasters are given considerably more emphasis than traditional Greek Revival, and what looks at first glance to be Gothic-arch windows are, in fact, triangular arches, which were both less expensive to build and more appropriate to the over-all design. The entry porch, a 1957 addition, is another departure from Greek Revival but works rather well here. The only discordant note is the pitch of the roof on the belfry, which should be much shallower in keeping with Greek Revival. All that suggests that no architect was involved in the design of the church, but a local builder who was reasonably savvy.
     A large number of the original congregation were members of the church in Succasunna, who petitioned for recognition of a church in Stanhope; until 1844 the congregation met in the local schoolhouse.