The Pennington Presbyterian Church at South Main Street and East Delaware Avenue traces its history back to 1709, when the farming families of present-day Lawrenceville, Trenton, Ewing, Pennington, and Hopewell requested the services of a minister from the newly-created Presbytery of Philadelphia. This was only one year after the 1708 first recorded European settlement in the Pennington area.
We have two wonderful Anniversary booklets for the First Presbyterian Church of Pennington that detail its history, thanks to Bob Lawless: the 225th Anniversary from 1934, and the 250th Anniversary from 1959.
These provide extensive histories of the Church and its buildings, biographies of its pastors, its activities, and lists of officers back to the 1700s – which are summarized below.
Pennington First Presbyterian Church History
The Pennington congregation was originally known as The People of Maidenhead and Hopewell (i.e., covering the current Lawrenceville and greater Hopewell area).
In 1786, the church was incorporated under the name of First Presbyterian Church of the Township of Hopewell in the County of Hunterdon. A century later in 1876, when the Presbyterians of the village of Hopewell organized a church there, the name of the Pennington church was changed to First Presbyterian Church. It is now known simply as Pennington Presbyterian Church.
The first Presbyterian church building in Pennington was constructed in 1724, described as frame structure, 34 by 30 feet, with cedar shingled walls and roof. It was located just south of the current church building, in what is now the cemetery.
The second church building was constructed in 1765, and was a substantial brick structure with a steeple and belfry. The building was later altered and expanded in the early 1830s.
In 1776, during the Revolutionary War, British troops marched through Pennington (then known as Queenstown) and were quartered in local buildings. According to local tradition, soldiers exercised their horses by jumping them over the Presbyterian cemetery wall. The pews also were hacked with axes, and the marble top of the communion table was split by a hard blow.
The Sunday School was started around 1820. The schoolwork consisted of reading the Scriptures, the Lord’s Prayer, Catechism, and Union Questions. The school had a small library (“kept in a little red chest”), and did not hold winter sessions. Attendance in 1905 was 67 children. The average attendance by 1958 was approximately 300 from an enrollment of 500.
The third church building was constructed in 1847 after raising $5,000. It was built of brick with the outside walls rough-coated in white plaster, and with a 150 foot spire. Unfortunately, the building was continuously in need of repair due to faulty construction, and then was destroyed by fire in 1874.
The congregation then resolved to rebuild at once, raised $15,000, and the current red brick church with a 130 foot steeple with a bell then was dedicated in 1875. An addition in 1891 provided for the installation of a pipe organ.
The Titus Hall annex for Sunday School and other activities was added in 1927. The Magner Hall classroom annex then was added in 1951, and the education wing and social hall were added in 1964. The corner property at Main and East Delaware was purchased in 1958 to provide additional space for the Church School and pastor.
Pennington Presbyterian – 225th Anniversary (1934)
The First Presbyterian Church of Pennington created this 56-page 225th Anniversary booklet in 1934. It covers the history of the Church in the context of the development of Pennington.
The first sections include a historical sketch of the Church, extensive pastor biographies from the first pastor in 1715, details on the different church buildings, and activities in the Revolutionary War and the following period.
It also includes the program for the Historical Pageant Program held that October at the Church, plus other brief histories, including bible class, Sunday School, music, missionary societies, and youth programs.
The booklet then concludes with an extensive listing of officers of the Church from the 1700s, including elders, deacons, and trustees.
== View the Pennington Presbyterian 225th Anniversary Booklet (1934) ==
Contents:
- p. 7 – Worship services and Historical Pageant
- p. 11 – Historical Sketch of the church
- p. 14 – Pastor biographies, from first in 1715, plus photos from 1831
- P. 29 – Church buildings, Revolutionary War history
- p. 37 – Historical Pageant Program, Oct. 1934 at the Church
- p. 41 – Other histories – Bible Class, Sunday School, Music, Missionary Societies, etc.
- p, 53 – Officers of the Church – from 1700s
Pennington Presbyterian – 250th Anniversary (1959)
The First Presbyterian Church of Pennington created this 32-page 250th Anniversary booklet in 1959.
It also begins with detailed sections on the history of the congregation and buildings, and biographies of the pastors – but different from those in the earlier booklet.
These are followed by extensive discussions of the Church school and active Church groups, including women’s groups, the education council, fellowship programs, and the choirs.
The booklet concludes with extensive lists of elders, deacons, trustees, and school superintendents, plus a calendar of Anniversary events.
== View the Pennington Presbyterian 250th Anniversary Booklet (1959) ==
Contents:
- p. 4 – Greetings, Tributes
- p. 9 – Here Have We Worshiped – Congregation and buildings history
- p. 13 – Those Who Have Ministered – Pastor biographies
- p. 21 – Church School, Active Groups, Ongoing History
- p. 28 – Lists of Elders, Deacons, Trustees, School Superintendents
- p. 32 – Calendar of Anniversary Events
Pennington’s 250th Anniversary Pageant Booklet (1958)
The town of Pennington celebrated its own 250th anniversary of the first settlement in 1958, one year before Pennington Presbyterian’s 250th anniversary. The Pennington Sesquibicentennial Celebration (1708-1958) was marked with a “Pennington’s Heritage” Historical Pageant, performed at the Hopewell Township High School, November 14-15, 1958.
The 28-page pageant booklet, also kindly contributed by Bob Lawless, lists the pageant’s cast and organizers, plus the theme and performers of each of the 15 “Episodes” (scenes) in the performance, up to the end of World War II.
As a bonus for local historical researchers, in addition to the many names of local residents participating in the pageant, the booklet also includes some 80 sponsor advertisements for local businesses, with names, addresses, and phone numbers.
== View the Pennington’s Heritage 250th Anniversary Booklet (1958) ==
For more on the Pennington 250th, see:
- Pennington Sesquibicentennial 1708 – 1958 – 72 page booklet with histories of major institutions and civic groups
For more on the early origins of the Pennington Presbyterian Church, see:
- History of Presbyterian Church at Pennington (1876) – Hale (PDF) – 134 pp.
Please contact us if you have additional information or local churches and other organizations that we can preserve and share.
More on Hopewell Valley Churches
Historical information on Hopewell Valley churches.
See also the Document Archive for historical books on local churches.
Hopewell Borough
- Old School Baptist Church – Special Services (1993, 1993) – with histories (Pamphlet Collection)
- Calvary Baptist Church – 95th Anniversary book – 1966 – with extensive history (PDF)
- Calvary Baptist Church – Anniversary (1941) and Dedication of New Front (1952) – with histories (Pamphlet Collection)
- Hopewell Boro Church Anniversary Booklets (1966 & 1977) – Calvary Baptist (1966) and St. Alphonsus (1977)
- Hopewell Presbyterian – Broad and Louellen – History and Brief – 2020
- Hopewell Presbyterian Church 125th Anniversary – 2002 – Presentation and photos
- Hopewell Presbyterian Church 1908 Fundraiser – Postcard
- St. Alphonsus Church – 100th Anniversary book – 1977 – with extensive history (PDF)
- St. Alphonsus Church – Directory extracts – 2000 & 2010 – with history (Pamphlet Collection)
- Second Calvary Baptist Church – History and Brief – 2021
Pennington Borough
- Historic Churches of Pennington Borough Open House – 4/26/2015 – with histories (PDF)
- Pennington Presbyterian Church Anniversary Booklets – 225th & 250th
- St. James Church – Cook Book extract – 1965 – with history (PDF)
