Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

New Jersey Historic Trust Affiliated with the Department of Community Affairs

First Presbyterian Church of Paterson

Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund
Historic Site Management
Capital Level II
Grant Award: $50,000 (2017); $750,000 (2020)
Grant Recipient: New Jersey Community Development Corporation
County: Passaic
Municipality: Paterson City

First Presbyterian Church of Paterson (originally founded in 1813) was built in 1852, the Chapel in 1866, and Memorial Hall in 1908. The Church is the oldest religious structure in Paterson still in operation and was the home parish for the Colt family and other industrialists on the forefront of American development. Two congregants, Philemon Dickerson and John W. Griggs, were governors of New Jersey. The building has suffered from deferred maintenance, severe weather, and general wear and tear. The exterior brick on the original church building has several distressed areas where the brick has spalled and is falling apart.   

The 2020 Trust grant will help fund the complete interior and exterior rehabilitation of the First Presbyterian Church of Paterson for use as a community educational, rehearsal and performance space. The 2017 Trust grant helped fund the preparation of a preservation plan.  

For more information, visit https://www.njcdc.org/ 


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