South Presbyterian Church - Bergenfield, NJ

SOUTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH is descended from the first Schraalenburgh congregation established in 1723. The first church building was constructed beginning in 1724, and fully completed by 1728. This was approximately 36 feet square with a Dutch hip roof ascending to a central belfry and steeple. This church stood atop a small hill just west of Long Swamp Brook, facing south and fronting on the new county road laid down in 1717. Using today's landmarks, we can describe the site as the southeast corner of the present cemetery, directly across Church Street from the South Church House. For more than seventy years, this small church building served the farmers of Schraalenburgh. During that time it was silent witness to the ideological schism in the Dutch Reformed Church, irrevocably splitting the Schraalenburgh congregation, the American Revolution that pit neighbor against neighbor as Tory versus Patriot, and the birth of the United States.

The Hackensack Valley, and Schraalenburgh in particular, bore the brunt of the colonies' war of independence. Many a Schraalenburgh farmer lost livestock and suffered property damage due to foraging parties of both sides, and travel became dangerous. During the Revolution, the residents of Schraalenburgh found it increasingly difficult to attend their church regularly. Artillery batteries were placed just west of the church and troops dug earthworks on the property.  Many of these soldiers were from Schraalenburgh and today rest in South Church Cemetery.

When peace finally came to the new State of New Jersey, the congregation found a ravaged and scarred church. Repairs were made and the building made usable again for worship, however, it was apparent a new church was needed. Since 1755, members of the congregation had been in disagreement concerning church doctrine, to the point of developing into two separate congregations using one building.

The decision to build a new church was first seen as a factor to unite both sides, but soon the differences became overwhelming and the split permanent. Those who remained true to the old Dutch Church left to build their own house of worship, completing the North Church of Schraalenburgh in 1801. Those who remained demolished the original 1724 building, completing the new South Church of Schraalenburgh in 1799.

As originally built, the South Church had only three windows in each side, as well as one central front door Inside, on the main floor, were the usual box pews with doors, a feature of most contemporary New Jersey churches. Upstairs, there was a gallery on three sides containing simple wooden benches. The pulpit, central to Reformed worship, stood in the center of the north wall, beneath a large window.  To the left and right of this were pews set aside for the deacons and elders of the congregation. In this form, South Church served for more than fifty years.

By 1866, Schraalenburgh was growing into a sizable town, and along with it grew the congregation. Once again, it became apparent the church building was in need of enlargement. For two years, the 1799 church was under renovation, The side walls were rebuilt to include four windows each and new front doors were installed flanking the old center one. The interior was redone in the fashionable Gothic style and the floor pitched slightly to improve visibility for those seated to the rear. The old window in the north wall was removed and an alcove built in its place, extending a few feet from the building, and raised above the main floor. Here, centered as always, was placed the pulpit. These renovations were completed in 1868, and this is essentially how we view South Church today. In the past century, the building has had its share of modernization's; candlelight gave way to oil lamps, and in turn to electrification. Heat was installed, first coal fired, then oil, now gas, although the old drafts persist to this day. However, the charm and grace of the old Dutch Church at Schraalenburgh have remained.

In 1913, after much discussion, the congregation chose to unite with the Presbyterian Church. Today, after more than 270 years of building, remodeling, parting and uniting, the South Presbyterian Church of Bergenfield remains true to the Dutch farmers who first came to this site to worship in 1723. . . steadfast in purpose and faith.

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Last updated: October 06, 2020