The Parish of Christ Church was founded in 1742; It is the third oldest congregation in New Brunswick and still functions under the Royal Charter granted by George III of England in 1761. The corporate name is “The Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of Christ Church in the City of New Brunswick.” The church and its surrounding grounds are situated on a half block of land on Neilson Street between Church and Paterson Streets, leased to it by Philip French, an Early landowner, for an annual rental of “one peppercorn only if demanded.”

The church was built of native stone and its sturdy, square tower is part of the original building. The nave was torn down and enlarged in the mid-1800s, using the original stone and following the simplicity of design made famous by the English architect Sir Christopher Wren. The tower is a landmark and one of three historic structures in the city singled out for preservation during World War II. At the time of the Revolutionary War it had the only bell in New Brunswick, which doubtless was used to call together the citizens of the town to hear the reading of the Declaration of Independence on the nearby green. The present bell is rung before every service; it is the second to hang in the tower.

The entrance from Church Street is through the tower door into a small vestibule used originally by the rector for donning his vestment and thus called “the vestry.” At the rear of the church on the right is the font given by John Antill in memory of his father, the Hon. Edward Antill, who served as a lay reader between rectors before the Revolution. The Font has been in continuous use for Baptisms since 1780. The Rev. Dr. Abraham Beach is commemorated by a marble plaque on the wall. He became the first rector in 1767 and stayed through the Revolution. He was forced to close the church when threatened with violence by a parishioner if he prayed for the king. During the war Dr. Beach traveled – often at great danger to himself – to other Anglican churches within a forty-mile radius whose clergy had fled.

After the war Dr. Beach was a leader in organizing the Episcopal Church in the United States and in the State of New Jersey. The Right Rev. John Croes came to Christ Church in 1801 as rector and at the same time as headmaster of the Rutgers Grammar School. Neither institution could afford to pay him full time. In 1815 he was elected the first Bishop of New Jersey and Christ Church was New Jersey’s first cathedral. For this reason the Choir of men and boys are entitled to wear cassocks of “Bishop’s purple.” There is a memorial tablet to Bishop Croes on the front wall at the left of the chancel. As part of the Bicentennial in July, The Diocese placed a memorial cross in the floor of the nave in front of the altar to honor their first bishop, who was a foot soldier in the Revolutionary War.

On the left side wall are memorial tablets honoring men who were longtime vestrymen, Nicholas G. Rutgers who served for 43 years, and Richard Duyckinck and his wife and sister. The tablet on the front wall at the right is in memory of Dr. Abraham Beach, his wife, sister and two daughters. On the right side are three more memorial tablets: from the rear, they honor Joanna Bayard Neilson, member of an old New Brunswick family; McRae Swift, a vestryman for over 30 years, and William J. Walters, whose widow gave the present altar in his memory.

Christ Church purchased its first pipe organ in 1788 for $100. An organ by Hall and Erben was purchased in 1826 and replaced by an organ by Henry Erben in 1842. Both choir and organ were situated in the west gallery until May 1869, when an organ by Levi Stuart was placed in a newly built chamber. The chancel was remodeled in 1885 to accommodate collegiate-style seating and the newly formed choir of men and boys. A tubular-pneumatic, three-manual and pedal Steere and Turner organ replaced the Stuart organ in 1905. In 1923-24 a major renovation included a new Casavant organ installed in the west gallery and new main altar and retable. The new organ console was placed in the chancel near the choir and the organ chamber was turned into a sacristy. In 1968-1969 the chancel was re-modeled and a new and larger altar was placed at the front of the chancel and the choir stalls arranged in a semi-circle behind it. The old main altar was moved to the old sacristy (now the Clarke Chapel) at the north side of the nave. The Clarke Chapel was given by Dr. Francis M. Clarke, Sr. and his children in memory of his wife, Edith Sunday Clarke. Its three stained glass windows represent her great interests: roses, gardening and children.

The present sacristy is in a new addition to the church structure, built of matching brown stone. The upper floor contains a work sacristy where the communion silver is stored and where the altar Guild does their work. The lower floor is used by the clergy for vesting and stores altar paraments and vestments; there is also a vesting room for Acolytes and Lay Readers.
The new Richards, Fowkes organ, opus 12 was installed in the west gallery in 2001. Many design elements from the church's sanctuary are incorporated into the organ case. The organ is designed specifically for the dimensions and acoustics of the sanctuary, and is one of a very few carefully handcrafted musical instruments in the New Jersey-New York area.

The windows in the original church were of clear glass. The stained glass windows in the present church were put in after the middle of the last century when the building was enlarged. Almost all of them are memorials. In the Apse the center window show the Crucifixion and is a memorial to Samuel V. Hoffman, rector’s warden for 34 years. At the right is shown the Resurrection with the stone rolled back by the angel. It memorializes Warren Livingston. The window at the left, given by the church school in 1884 shows Christ’s Ascension. “Christ has died;” “Christ is risen” “Christ will come again!” On the left side of the nave facing the altar, the windows are in this order: the first is a Tiffany window, signed, and shows the Annunciation, the Angel Gabriel appearing to Mary. It was given in memory of Francis E. Parker, who died in 1905. The second, signed H. Hughes 1877, shows the three Marys. The third, signed Royal Bavarian Institute, depicts the Faith of the Centurion, whose servant Jesus healed. It is in memory of Rear Admiral Charles Boggs of the U. S. Navy. The last window on the left facing the altar was an entrance before the church was rebuilt. It shows the Symbols of the Faith: the Christmas rose, the Trinity, the anchor and rope for the Betrayal, the wounded Lamb reclining on the Book of the Seven Seals, the Heart on Fire for Christ’s Passion, the Cross and the Chalice.

From the font facing the altar on the right is another window depicting the symbols of the faith and the ministry of the two Ogilbys, John David, D.D. and the Rev. George Ogilby, who was the seventh rector of Christ Church. Next is the Adoration, showing the three kings bearing gifts to the Christ child and in memory of John Neilson Taylor. The next window shows Jesus raising the daughter of Jairus from the dead and memorializes Ellen Porter Parker. The last window on the left shows the Good Shepherd and is in memory of Henry A. Neilson. It, also is a signed Tiffany window. Since 1742 this parish church has stood here as a sign that the dwelling place of God is with men. For over two centuries men and women have come here to sing the praises of God, to hear his Word proclaimed, and to celebrate his life among us and his victory over death and hell. From this Altar, God’s People have gone forward filled with his Spirit to serve others in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This old church has seen many changes in the world over the past two centuries. Today, people from every family, language, race and nation gather here from week to week to offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Speak to one of the clergy or lay people for details about the Episcopal Church and our Parish.

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