The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-31
4 DECAYING CHURCH.
Old South Bergen Reformed
Building Rapidly Dis
appearing.
VICTIM OF uelssITUDEs
Sketch Of the Sects That Have
Worshipped in It-Among
the Churches.

1t is very seldom that one nears Oh q
church building being abandoned and let
go to rack and ruin, yet In this city, and
on the Heights, at Bergen avenue and
Union street, there is a church building,
now falling to decay, which could tell
some very interesting stories We're It
possessed of the power of articulation.
The vicissitudes of this building are
many. Possibly they result from the
p~lainness of the structure or because OF
the locality. Yet the lewliness should
have no effect upon the wo~rshippers, for,
it is truly said, that the place of worship,
no matter how humble. is equal to the
most stately edifice ever erected
This building is now in a state of de-
cay. It is sne of those old-fashioned
buildings, with a pointed roof and an
tique windows. windows. there are
none now. These have been shattered
by thousands of missiles, hurled by mis-
chievous youngsters, hungering for sport
There is not a whole pane of glass left
in one of the two dozen sashes. Even
the smallest panes at the top of the
steeple have been profusely punctured-
The doors-there were about four7have
been smashed to pieces, and the fence,
which formerly surrounded the little
building, has long since helped to roast
potatoes for the small boys when they
made their bonfires. At the present rate
of demolition. it is quite probable that
this once interesting structure will have
been pulled to pieces within another six
weeks.
1t is about twenty years ago that the
rapidly disappearing building was erect
- 4TAt-..1- ooa,sria1 nv fha napr vn-
CATION of the now defunct South Bergen
Reformed Church This congregation
worshipped there for years, and, like
many other churches. the members finally
labered under the impression that the
building was far too small for devotional
purposes. Accordingly, a building fund
was started and in q few years enough
money was realized to begin the erection
of a more stately edifice at Bergen and
Boyd venues Every one knows how
these plans terminated. After the con-
summation of the new church project,
the congregation moved to its new and
more beautiful home.
They die not long enjoy their exalted
position. for the expenses were so heavy
that the congregation finally decided TO
disband. At this juncture the Rev. John
L. Scudder stepped in and took charge of
tn church.. making It a part of the Taber-
nacle downtown. The Salvation Army
people and a corps of Gods American
Volunteers then contested for the old
building. 1t was shortly before that
period that Darlington Booth split with
the Salvation Army. The Army secured
the church and services We're held there
for about three months. After the Army
people a left. because of the heavy ex-
penses. a eolored congregation, which then
held its services on Communipaw avenue
and Seidler street, took the building
These people, too, found that they could
not bear the expense. and once again the
building became vacant.
Then an fort was made by a number
of Staten Island people to organize a
Congregational church there. Four meet
ings were held and the plan fell through.
The Rev. Paul G~rimshaw, who was at the
head of the movement, called upon Mr..
Scudder, but that gentleman gave him no
encouragement and objected to any one
infringing on his territory. Since that
time. which is about nine months ago, the
church has been empty and it is now
slowly but surely being reduced to fire.
wood.