City - Westfield, NJ - The Presbyterian Church in Westfield

by Mike Savad

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City - Westfield, NJ - The Presbyterian Church in Westfield

Artist

Mike Savad

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Photograph - Hdr Photography

Description

This is the Presbyterian Church in Westfield, NJ, next to Mindowaskin Park. It was erected in 1861 replacing one before it. It's said that back on June 26, 1777 during the American Revolution, a church pastor by the name of Reverend Benjamin Woodruff, a staunch patriot, he had the church bell rung to warn the residents that the Redcoats were coming. Then again on June 23, 1780, he did it again, only this time the British climbed up there and flung the bell to the ground. It's said that the bell somehow ended up in Staten Island, where later a prisoner from Westfield heard it ringing, recognized the tone, and it was eventually brought back to be rehung in the belfry.

Reverend Woodruff and his wife are buried under the vestibule of the present building; a plaque near the front door commemorates his long and devoted service.

Today this church is still fully functional, and though it had repairs done a 100 years ago, the steeple still stands proud. You can see it's quite a tall building, with those tiny people going in.

Uploaded

August 25th, 2023

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