Today we’d like to introduce you to Community Church Of Hoboken.
Hi Community, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
The Community Church of Hoboken was founded in 1856 as the German Evangelical Church. Instability in many parts of Europe in the 19th century fueled large migrations. More than 5 million Germans came to the USA, with many settling in and near New York City. The 2nd largest immigrant group were the Irish. Both of these groups settled in Hoboken, and led to the creation of many Lutheran and Catholic churches. Over time immigrant patterns changed. When World Wars 1 and 2 took place, suddenly the German community in Hoboken was on the defensive. Germany was the enemy of the USA overseas and Germans were seen as a threat at home. During the 20th century many churches combined and consolidated. Residential populations in the heart of the city migrated to the suburbs. During this time the Evangelical Church merged with the Dutch Reform Church in 1931, and later with the United Methodist Church in 1970. Today the congregation is known as the Community Church of Hoboken, and is now the oldest church in town.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Diversity and difference throughout American history has sometimes been cause for friction – for some people. Today we see diversity as an element of strength in the social fabric of our church. Church membership today includes people from more than a dozen different countries, and many different Christian denominations, including Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Methodist, Catholic and Reform and other ecumenical groups.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Community Church of Hoboken?
Inside the church we have a celebrated music program, with seasonal concerts, highlighted especially at Christmas. The centerpiece of many musical programs is the Jardine pipe organ, installed in 1875. It is believed to be the 2nd oldest pipe organ in the state of New Jersey.
Surrounding the church on the outside there is a much loved flower and vegetable garden maintained by the membership. Each spring and summer more than 40 different flowers bloom, including more than 25 different species of daffodil. The fruit dangling from the grape arbor on the north side is used to make juice for church communion and jelly for pot luck breakfast and lunches. The whole landscape landscape surrounding the church and adjacent parsonage has been re-worked over the past 15 years to collect and store rainwater off the church roof. The three rain gardens and ten rain barrels reuse the rain to sustain the garden during the dry summer months.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
We like our city because it is so walkable and pedestrian friendly. It is also right on the Hudson River, which basically gives us all free air conditioning in the summer with cool breezes blowing across the water. We aren’t huge fans of the never-ending construction, but we accept it. We think that it shows that people want to invest here.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hobokencommunity.org
- Instagram: hobokencommunity
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CommunityChurchOfHoboken/
