Princeton Baptist Church of Penns Neck

Princeton Baptist Church, May 2022.

Historical Overview

A two-story church with cemetery behind it fronts Route 1 at 261 Washington Road. This building - the Princeton Baptist Church - is one of West Windsor Township's most historic sites (listed on the National Register of Historic Places), a focal point of the 1700s-era Penns Neck community, and a member of West Windsor's "100 Club."

The church was built in 1812[1] but its background begins far earlier.  The Upper Meeting House of Middletown was the parent church of the First Baptist Church of Hightstown, founded in Cranbury in 1745 but moved to Hightstown forty years later.[2] The Hightstown congregation, in turn, served as a mother church to several congregations - and in 1787, they added another to this list.[3]

That year, preaching commenced at John Flock's home in Maidenhead as well as John Campbell's in Princeton. In 1790, however, sermons moved to the home of John Hight in Penns Neck (also known as "Williamsburg," both names presumably deriving from the area's first colonial landowner - famed Quaker and founder of Pennsylvania, William Penn).[4],[5] An old church book from 1812 records various baptisms over the next twenty-five years until they formalized a congregation. This same book records on its very first pages: "William's Burrough Baptist Church Book ... Commencing December the 5th day 1812 at which time and place there (sic) meeting house was opened & solemnly dedicated to and for the worship of GOD."[6]

Princeton Baptist Church, circa 1908.

​Minutes record the enthusiasm of raising funds to erect the church: "...without exception almost all the inhabitants of Penns Neck & Princeton generously contributed ... It was undertaken with spirit, and the carpenter work well and nearly completed to the satisfaction of the managers by Elias Bailey." These same minutes list 14 men and 23 women listed as original members. Of them, five were early deacons: John Applegate, Joseph Grover, John Jones, William Vaughan, and Ezekiel Wilson. They were ministered by the Rev. Peter Wilson of the Hightstown church, who wrote the early minutes.[7]

​The church had been built on land donated by William and Mary Kovenhoven, founding members themselves.[8] It was erected at a time that Penns Neck was starting to form as a community around the recently-chartered Trenton-New Brunswick Turnpike (Route 1) and Washington Road.[9],[10] Within a few years, the earliest burial was made in the graveyard, which now contains over six hundred more burials of locals - farmers, teachers, soldiers, government representatives, and more.[11] Kovenhoven's deed for an acre of land also called upon the Baptists to share their building with other Christian sects when not in use.[12] 

In 1815, upon calling on Alexander Hastings as a new minister to succeed Peter Cooper, the church offered the opportunity to run a Sabbath school, promising 25 children, each to pay $2 per quarter. Four years later, under another pastor, the school was established and the church trustees reported that a remarkable 46 pupils were enrolled, led by a superintendent and seven teachers.[13] 

Penns Neck, 1875. Note the "Bap. Ch" and "Hotel."

In 1821, women were given the right to vote in church affairs. That year, the body was officially incorporated. The Rev. John Segar of Hightstown came as supply every other Sunday, since once again the congregation lacked a preacher.[14]

In the following decades, the church struggled with frequent losses of pastors, infrequent preaching, congregational divisions, and small membrship. From 1831-41, there are no known minutes whatsoever. However, by 1850, a spiritual resurgence had occurred, the congregation felt sure of itself enough to resolve to move to Princeton.[15] In 1852, they dedicated a new house of worship on Canal Street (Alexander Street) on land obtained as a gift from the Stockton family and named themselves the "Princeton Baptist Church."[16] However, some thought the move injudicious so they remained in Penns Neck and formed the separate "West Windsor Particular Baptist Church" in 1853. This congregation dissolved around 1859,[17] but many of its parishioners refused to join the Princeton congregation and preaching continued by other means - including sending pastors from the Princeton congregation to hold service.[18]

In 1874, the Princeton Baptist Church voted to reunite with their Penns Neck counterparts, and returned there three years later. A new congregation name - the "Princeton Baptist Church at Penns Neck" - was chosen to reflect this progress. During the intervals of non-use, the Penns Neck church building had deteriorated - a leaking roof had caused damage to the plastered walls and wind swept through gaping clapboards. With money obtained from selling the Princeton church, the congregation rotated the building to face Route, refurbished the building inside and out into a Greek Revival style, installed a belfry steeple with spire (now gone), and approved a one-bay vestibule. At this time, there was still at least one living from the original 1812 congregation: Ezekiel R. Wilson, around 89 years old.[19],[20]

Rev. L. O. Grenelle, Pastor of Princeton Baptist Church 1873-1882

In 1879, the adjacent Red Lion Inn - then located directly at the eastern corner of Route 1 and Washington Road - was put up for sale by the administrators of the estate of Noah Reed, its last innkeeper.[21] The minister L. O. Grenelle encouraged purchasing it, calling it an eyesore and insisting that "one of these institutions will go down, either the dram shop or the church." At the time, the tavern was reputedly "noted for its bad influence on young men and by its continual sale of intoxicating liquors where there was little demand for entertaining the traveling public." Upon purchasing the property, the inn was converted into a church parsonage.[22] Its purchase per Grenelle, was "the next best thing the Church has ever done, (next) to the erection of the house of worship."[23] It was later moved to its current location along Washington Road.[24] It was dedicated by the nonprofit "Haven House" around 2022, for housing run by the nonprofit Homefront.[25]

In 1963, the church erected its cinderblock Christian Education Building in the middle of its property.[26] By that time, a commercial building had been erected at 3716 US-1 (an AT&T building in 2023).[27] In 1989, after a concerted local effort, the church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[28]

In the years since, the church as seen numerous pastors and other members come and go. However, the church, cemetery, and inn remain as longtime landmarks of historic Penns Neck.

Breaking ground for the Christian Education Building, 1963.

Return to Penns Neck Homepage

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Bibliography

1. Wilson, Peter. “Minutes of the William’s Burrough Baptist Church, 1812-1852.” West Windsor, NJ: Princeton Baptist Church, 1812.
2. “History.” First Baptist Church of Hightstown, November 5, 2019. https://fbchights.org/history/#:~:text=We%20were%20the%20seventh%20Baptist,dedicated%20in%20February%20of%201858. 
3. Updike, Frank M. The Princeton Baptist Church at Penns Neck. West Windsor, New Jersey, 1991. Physical copy located in the Archives of the Historical Society of West Windsor at the West Windsor History Museum (50 Southfield Road, West Windsor NJ 08550)
4. Wilson, Peter. “Minutes of the William’s Burrough Baptist Church, 1812-1852.” West Windsor, NJ: Princeton Baptist Church, 1812.
5. Schenck, Garret, John Covenhoven, Thomas Penn, Richard Penn, and John Penn. Indenture. New Jersey State Archives, 1737. Deed of 6,500 acres from heirs (sons) of William Penn to Garret Schenck and John Covenhoven. Located in New Jersey State Archives F-2 (EJ): Folio 380 (SSTSE023)
6. Wilson, Peter. “Minutes of the William’s Burrough Baptist Church, 1812-1852.” West Windsor, NJ: Princeton Baptist Church, 1812.
7. Ibid.
8. Grover, Joseph, Kovenhoven, Mary, Kovenhoven, William, Stout, Joseph, Vaughan, William, Wilson, Ezekiel R. “Indenture.” Windsor, 1812. Located in the New Jersey State Archives, Middlesex County Deed Book 9 Page 601.
9. “New Jersey Historic Roadway Study,” January 2011. Produced by KSK Architects Planners Historians, Inc. with Armand Corporation, Inc. & Michael Baker, Jr. Inc. HOP Log #03-1895-6
10. ​​“West Windsor Township Meeting Minutes, 1797-2012.,” n.d. Original Township Committee meeting minute database located in the Municipal Center.
11. ​Princeton Baptist Church. (n.d.). Princeton Baptist Church graveyard. West Windsor. Princeton Baptist Church graveyard gravestones, which often list birth dates, death dates, and ages of those buried there - including those of many of West Windsor's oldest families.
12. Grover, Joseph, Kovenhoven, Mary, Kovenhoven, William, Stout, Joseph, Vaughan, William, Wilson, Ezekiel R. “Indenture.” Windsor, 1812. Located in the New Jersey State Archives, Middlesex County Deed Book 9 Page 601.
13. Wilson, Peter. “Minutes of the William’s Burrough Baptist Church, 1812-1852.” West Windsor, NJ: Princeton Baptist Church, 1812.
14. Ibid.
15. Ibid.
16. Wilson, Peter. “Minutes of the Princeton Baptist Church, 1852-1883.” West Windsor, NJ: Princeton Baptist Church, 1883.
17. Wilson, Peter. “Minutes of the West Windsor Particular Baptist Church, 1853-1883.” West Windsor, NJ: Princeton Baptist Church, 1853.
18. Wilson, Peter. “Minutes of the Princeton Baptist Church, 1852-1883.” West Windsor, NJ: Princeton Baptist Church, 1883.
19. Wilson, Peter. “History and Notes on Princeton Baptist Church at Penns Neck, New Jersey.” West Windsor, NJ: Princeton Baptist Church, 1878 (and later additions in the 1880s).
20. United States Census, 1870 - West Windsor Township.” West Windsor Township, 1870.
21. Trustees of the Princeton Baptist Church, Waters, Isaac G. “Indenture.” Windsor, 1879. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 
22. Wilson, Peter. “History and Notes on Princeton Baptist Church at Penns Neck, New Jersey.” West Windsor, NJ: Princeton Baptist Church, 1878 (and later additions in the 1880s).
23. Ibid.
24. “National Register of Historic Places Registration Form.” West Windsor, November 28, 1989. For the Princeton Baptist Church and Red Lion Inn. Approved.
25. “Facebook Post by Haven House, Inc. on Dedication of Haven House.” West Windsor, NJ, October 24, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/HavenHouseNJ/
26. “National Register of Historic Places Registration Form.” West Windsor, November 28, 1989. For the Princeton Baptist Church and Red Lion Inn. Approved.
27. "West Windsor Aerial Photography Composite Map, 1959.” Map. Historical Society of West Windsor - Map Archives. West Windsor, NJ, 1959.
28. “National Register of Historic Places Registration Form.” West Windsor, November 28, 1989. For the Princeton Baptist Church and Red Lion Inn. Approved.