Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church

Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church is a historic church located on New Jersey Route 49 (Bridgeton-Milltown Pike) in the Gouldtown section of Fairfield Township in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. The current church was built in 1860, on the eve of the American Civil War. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 29, 1995, for its significance in religion and African-American history.[3]

Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church
Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church is located in Cumberland County, New Jersey
Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church
Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church is located in New Jersey
Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church
Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church is located in the United States
Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church
LocationNew Jersey Route 49, Gouldtown, New Jersey
Coordinates39°25′12″N 75°11′3″W / 39.42000°N 75.18417°W / 39.42000; -75.18417
Built1860 (1860)
Architectural styleMid 19th Century Revival
NRHP reference No.95001138[1]
NJRHP No.2807[2]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPSeptember 29, 1995
Designated NJRHPJuly 17, 1995

History and description

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Gouldtown is now just a crossroads with a few buildings, but it is one of the oldest settlements in America founded by free, land-owning African-Americans. The Rev. Ruben Cuff of Salem County organized a society of African Americans in 1818. In 1823 they bought an unused schoolhouse to use as a church, and in 1834 they bought a second schoolhouse and moved it to the site.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System – (#95001138)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. ^ "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places – Cumberland County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection – Historic Preservation Office. December 20, 2022. p. 3.
  3. ^ Stokes Sr., Alvin M.; Wright, Carrie (May 1995). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church". National Park Service. With accompanying 14 photos
  4. ^ Chiat, Marilyn Joyce Segal (1997). America's religious architecture: sacred places for every community, Preservation Press Series. John Wiley and Sons. p. 465. ISBN 0471145025. p.84