North Reformed Church

North Reformed Church

Originally built as the Third Reformed Dutch Church, the North Reformed Church was designed by William H. Kirk in the Gothic revival style. It is sitting in a remarkable location, across the Washington Park surrounded by higher buildings, taken out of its original suburban context by a clearance program. Yet it appears more complete with adjunct buildings - parish house and a small rectory. The twin-towered church follows the precepts of Richard Upjohn. The front facade is dominated by a very tall tower and spire. The exterior of the church is constructed with brownstone and pierced by pointed-arched windows. In addition, diagonal buttressing in the facade and side buttressing articulate the various bays of the church. In the interior, there are a choir gallery, organ loft, side galleries, side aisles, central nave and upper clerestory. The narthex ends in a chapel that contains a vestry, a lecture room, and Sabbath school. Among the congregation of this church, there were some of the notable and powerful families of Newark such as the Ballantines, the Frelinghuysens, and the Polhemus.

1857

extant

Gordon, Mark W., and Anthony Schuman, editors. Newark Landmark Treasures: A Guide to the Landmark Buildings, Parks, Public Art & Historic Districts in New Jersey’s Metropolis. Newark Preservation and Landmarks Committee, 2016, p. 45.

National Register of Historic Places, North Reformed Church, Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, National Register #72000780

Gothic Revival