A Stained-Glass Series for the Season of Light

By Sarah Teo | Photography by the author

Over hill and over dale, these lesser-known churches have been an important part of the local fabric for over a century, sometimes close to three. We take a brief tour of each and look at their impact in the community.

Neshanic Reformed Church
715 Amwell Road, Hillsborough

“Neshanic” is translated from the name of a Lenape Native American tribe that lived in the South Branch Raritan River region of New Jersey, meaning “two creeks.” It was in this area that a Dutch settlement took shape in 1750, which over time included a grist mill, tavern, and the Neshanic Reformed Church — the centerpiece of today’s Neshanic Historic District.

Neshanic Reformed has a unique distinction: it is the oldest church in New Jersey that is still in continuous use for its original purpose. Enormous amounts of stone were cut and hauled from nearby Sourland Mountain for its creation, completed in 1772. Just a few years later, in May 1775, the Somerset Minutemen formed outside its doors to serve in the Revolution; by war’s end, it was the only public building in the county not destroyed by the British. It’s therefore no surprise that the church has been commemorated in every medium from fine art and ceramic to even cross-stitch.

 

The stained-glass windows were likely a late 19th-century addition, and the current 1999 cupola is actually made of fiberglass, with an interesting story behind it.

“A Verizon executive would drive by often, and noticed he couldn’t get good reception,” said current Pastor Chris Kile. “So, he approached the church about installing a cell tower in the belfry, which included a full restoration.”

The offer was nothing short of a miracle, since the congregation had struggled to raise funds for the much-needed repair. Kile also shared a story of the upstairs gallery, the only seating available to Black slaves of area landowners in the late 1700s until Emancipation. Hardware brackets on each pew — installed to hold chains (and enslaved people) securely — disappeared one day in recent times without an explanation; it seems that someone thought it time.

Today, the remodeled schoolhouse building tucked behind and part of the church also benefits the community in a variety of ways: it’s both a preschool center and meeting place for Scout troops, plus the home of the Raritan Valley Chorus.

Harlingen Reformed Church
2142 US-206, Belle Mead

The Harlingen Reformed Church first organized in 1727; its original services and records were kept in Dutch. Over time, it went by different names —The Church Over the Millstone, The Church at Sourland — before finally adopting its present-day designation in 1801, honoring a former reverend.

The current sanctuary has stood since 1851, but the 1925 Fellowship Hall addition firmly cemented Harlingen Church as the rural community’s social center. A basketball court provided an outlet for local youth. And if you step inside today, you’ll still find a small stage, graced by school children during the 1930s and now, almost 100 years later, awaiting students from the Allegra School of Music and Arts, moving in next door. Two years after the expansion, long panels of stained glass were installed for the church’s 200th anniversary.

Other amenities, including a spacious kitchen, allow the church to provide continuous community support.

“Three different support groups meet here during the week, including two Al-Anons,” said Pastor Chris Heitkamp. “And groups like the emergency services across the street: they don’t have an office space, so they have their board meetings over here once or twice a month.”

Trinity Episcopal Church of Rocky Hill
One Park Avenue, Rocky Hill

After meeting in homes for several years, a group of congregants in Rocky Hill decided to mail-order and build their own church in 1865. (Mail-order homes saw a rise in popularity a few decades later.) The building was designed to seat 100, though the space feels even smaller — but very quaint and cozy. Since its completion, Trinity Episcopal Church of Rocky Hill has served its community through such events as documentary screenings, weekly food drives, and the annual Blessing of the Animals ceremony.

The sanctuary’s stained-glass windows were donated and installed in stages, beginning in 1892 until the most recent in 1990. They range in style, but were given in loving memory. And a few of Trinity’s windows are the craftwork of Willet Stained-Glass Studios, whose legacy is rooted in the work of William and Anne Lee Willet, who made important contributions to stained-glass artistry in their time including the design of the Great West Window depicting the Seven Liberal Arts at Princeton University’s Procter Hall.

By 2020, repairs were needed at Trinity, and the congregation answered the call, restoring all windows to their original shine. Some were even removed and made the journey to Epiphany Studios in Virginia, since the pandemic had temporarily suspended in-person services at the building.

With meaningful touches throughout this chapel and its adjoining Memorial Garden, it’s easy to understand why the church refers to itself as “the little church with a big heart.”

 

United Reformed Church of Somerville
100 West Main Street, Somerville

Two immense stained-glass windows are the first to greet you inside United Reformed’s sanctuary. The newest, a 1954 “Epiphany Window” depicting the Wise Men visiting Jesus, is largely the work of New Jersey native H.L. Wise, with the upper portion being created by Otto Heinigke. Heinigke was a significant stained-glass artist of his time, and his firm Heinigke and Bowen created windows for many notable institutions, including the Library of Congress, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the New York Stock Exchange. The other window in the sanctuary is also Heinigke’s — the 1894 “Easter Window” depicting the resurrection of Christ, comprised of 10,000 pieces of glass and measuring 13×28 feet.

A third window, “The Good Shepherd,” sits above the balcony. Created in the American Opalescent style, it traces a direct line to the Tiffany Company of New York: its maker served as an apprentice to a former artisan from Tiffany.

The congregation itself can claim a 326-year history, its first service conducted as the Reformed Dutch Church of Raritan in 1699. Other interesting historical facts abound: New Brunswick Theological Seminary, the first in the U.S., had its roots in a parsonage kitchen. George Washington, whose 1779 winter quarters were near the same parsonage, became close friends with the reverend at the time, Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh. The current building, completed over 1893-94, is of Richardsonian Romanesque-style architecture, seen also in Princeton University’s Alexander Hall.

Kingston United Methodist Church
9 Church Street, Kingston

In February of 1878, evangelist Lizzie Sharp conducted gospel revival meetings at the Methodist Episcopal Church of Rocky Hill that created quite a stir. In their devotion, around 20 Kingston residents walked the railroad tracks to attend, a distance over two miles, and came away inspired to build their own church. By June, a plot of land was purchased for $250, and by January 1879, Kingston United Methodist Church (KUMC) was finished and dedicated.

 

Though tucked behind busy Route 27 in present day, this small church has served the community in big ways. The building is currently used 20-30 hours per week for music lessons and choral rehearsals/concerts, and provides space for two recovery groups. A Community Arts and Music Festival drew over 100 guests this summer. And uniquely, a partnership with the Kingston Historical Society has added events to the calendar: a “Tea Time Talks” series last winter, and this coming January, an onsite Revolutionary reenactment of a generals’ meeting that took place across the street, since the land was once the highest lookout point in the area.

St. George’s Anglican Church
56 Main Street, Helmetta

In the 1880s, businessman George Washington Helme took full ownership of a snuff mill, and his company became one of the largest producers in the country. More land was acquired, homes for workers built, and Helmetta, New Jersey (named after his youngest daughter), was born. To provide a worship space for families in the company town, St. George’s (originally St. Paul’s) was built in 1894 using a Queen Anne Gothic style. In 1969, the Rambusch Company of Jersey City proposed a thematic scheme for some of the church’s windows, with additional windows added in 1970-71.

New Life Food Pantry began in the basement of the church in 2006 and stays active to this day. It served over 8,700 people in 2024, redistributing over 244,000 pounds of food. It also provides free access to blood pressure checks, blood sugar monitoring, and cholesterol screening through partner agencies.

St. Alphonsus Catholic Church
54 East Prospect Street, Hopewell

By the 1870s, the arrival of a railroad began to transform the rural community of Hopewell into a busy village. The town had no Catholic church of its own, so a few local residents met with Bishop Michael Corrigan of the Diocese of Newark to intercede for their own worship place. Construction soon began with the help of clergy from nearby Princeton and Trenton. A cornerstone was laid in 1877, and the building was completed a few years later at a cost of $5,000. Stained-glass windows were installed in 1921, thanks to donations from parishioners.

During a tour of the building, Communications Administrator Eileen Zysk pointed out a window inscription that highlights their age: “Dedicated ‘In honor of parish boys who served in the world war.”

Many saints are represented, including patron St. Alphonsus, the Four Evangelists, and St. Cecilia, patron saint of musicians — appropriately placed in the choir loft.

St. Alphonsus is part of the Catholic Community of Hopewell Valley, which includes two other parishes in Pennington and Titusville, and they donate time collectively to a number of community outreach initiatives, including the food pantry/outreach program at Aunt Chubby’s (a local favorite restaurant) and fall coat drives. They also partner annually with Rise Against Hunger. According to Reverend Stephen Sansevere, church volunteers come together and assemble 30-35,000 dry-pack meals, which will later be sent to those in desperate need around the country and world.