Christ Church (New Brunswick, New Jersey)
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Christ Church is in New Brunswick, New Jersey and was organized in 1742 by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. The original church was built in 1745 and the extant tower was built in 1773. Following the Revolutionary War, the rector, Abraham Beach, gathered the scattered clergy of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania in 1785 to plan a union of several existing Church of England parishes, which became the first General Convention of the Episcopal Church. Samuel Seabury, first Bishop in the Episcopal Church served as rector, as well as the Rt. Rev. John Croes, first Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey. John Henry Hobart served as Rector in 1799. The church served as the cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey from 1815-1832. The original building was torn down and rebuilt in 1852. Poet Joyce Kilmer was baptized and confirmed in the church. Long noted for its excellent music program, the church's first pipe organ was purchased in 1788. Richards, Fowkes and Company's opus 12 mechanical action pipe organ was installed in 2001-2002.
[edit] Notable burials
- Anthony Walton White Revolutionary War Continental Army Officer
- Rt. Rev. John Croes, First Bishop of New Jersey
- Abraham Beach
