Old St Mary’s Church Burlington New Jersey

The oldest church building in the state of New Jersey, Old St. Mary's, was built in Burlington in 1703, The cornerstone was laid in March 1703 and by August, the small church, measuring only 22 by 40 feet, was dedicated. It was built of brick in the Georgian manner.  The building was extended 23 feet to the west in 1769 (Robert Smith of Philadelphia, who designed Carpenters Hall there, as well as the Anglican churches in Shrewsbury and Freehold, was the architect.). The entrance was moved from the west side to face Broad Street on the south, and extended again to the east in 1810. The initial expansion was probably due to growth in the size of the congregation, but it may have been part of the continuing effort to secure an American Bishop by providing a suitable seat. The 1810 work, which included considerable remodeling and the addition of an apse, was carried out according to plans prepared by the architect Robert Mills, originally from South Carolina, but lately of Philadelphia and destined to become architect of the U.S. Capitol.

Wings were added to the north and south in 1834 under the direction of Isaac Holden, then of Philadelphia, which gave the church its present cruciform plan

The building served the congregation and as the seat of the Bishop for New Jersey until 1854, when the new St. Mary's church, a few hundred feet south, just across the old burial grounds, was dedicated. The original building was converted for Sunday School use in 1875, then served the congregation again in 1976 when the new church was severely damaged by fire; services continued here until repairs were completed in 1979. Over the last several years it has been extensively restored and is used for occasional services. It is recognized as a National Historic Monument.

Reference    Frank L. Greenagel 203