A Brief Look at a Few Storied Churches in Bloomfield

In a town that’s been around as long as Bloomfield has – incorporated in 1812, but its history stretches back into the 1700s -- you’re bound to find a house of worship in every neighborhood, and some of those church buildings may have even been the cornerstones of township itself.

As a Roman Catholic, I immediately indentify with Sacred Heart Parish, The Church of Saint Valentine, and Saint Thomas the Apostle. The first served as my parish from 1967 through 1987, and the latter two were considered after I got married and moved to the northern end of town.

However, Catholicism isn’t the only religion represented in town. There are Baptist, Episcopalian, Jewish, Lutheran, Methodist and Presbyterian congregations and more who celebrate in gorgeous structures as well.

In this piece, Bloomfield Patch takes a brief glimpse at just some of the locales in town, and reflect for a moment on their history.

Baptist

The light in the church steeple is always on in at night at Brookdale Baptist Church, 1350 Broad Street. Originally incorporated in June, 1894 as a mission church of Bloomfield’s First Baptist Church, the church has grown out of its original buildings into its current.

First Baptist Church (1 Washington Street) itself was founded in November, 1851, and a tiny school house on Franklin Street (near the former South Junior High School) was the first place of worship. In 1852, the current property at the corner of Franklin and Washington Streets was purchased and construction of a new church building commenced. The first service in the new building was held on July of 1853.

Catholic

The Church of Saint Valentine at 125 North Spring Street was founded by the Saint Valentine's Mutual Benefit Society in June of 1898 to serve the Polish people of Bloomfield. A suitable place of worship was found in the "Hope Chapel" on current Hoover Avenue, with a decision made to purchase the chapel, its site and furnishings from the Broughton Presbyterian Society. The transaction was completed in October, 1898 and added was a sacristy, an altar, and a confessional so the congregation could be best served.

Sacred Heart Parish, at the corner of Broad and Liberty Steets, has been in Bloomfield for over a hundred years. Founded in 1878, Reverend Joseph M. Nardiello served as the initial pastor, and he opened the first church building on Bloomfield Avenue and Liberty Street in November that year.  14 years later in 1892, he oversaw construction of the current church building. The late Reverend’s statue on the Liberty Street side of the church.

Lutheran

After originally meeting in homes and over Bloomfield Center stores following the 1896 founding, the Saint John’s Lutheran Evangelical Church 36-member congregation then

purchased land on Liberty Street and Austin Place. The chapel built then is now used as a recreation hall and for Sunday School. The present facility was purchased from the Westminster Presbyterian congregation, and then moved from its location just a block from the present day site and dedicated on May, 1902.

Presbyterian

When it comes to Presbyterian churches in town, two stand out. A humble storefront was the starting spot of  Bethany Presbyterian Church prior to World War II. Soon after, a Neo-Gothic brick structure was completed at 293 West Passaic Avenue.

And then there is the great granddaddy of all Bloomfield Churches, the Bloomfield Presbyterian Church on the Green. Forever known as the “Church on the Green” at 147 Broad Street, it sits directly across from Bloomfield Senior High School. The oldest church in Bloomfield, its current church building (for which the Township is named) was built in 1797 and served as the home of the First Presbyterian Church of Bloomfield until 1966. In that year, four Bloomfield congregations, including "Old First", Westminster Presbyterian Church, Park Avenue Presbyterian Church, and Ampere Community Church, merged to form the present Church on the Green.

Yes, our places of worship are an important part of Bloomfield, its history, and the community.

For more information and profiles of congregations, churches and synagogues in town, read Bloomfield.Patch.com every Sunday.