Nazareth Methodist Episcopal Church
Aldine, Alloway Township, Salem County
County Roads 611 & 635
founded 1841, built 1868
The interrupted pediment marks this church as mid-nineteenth century; it was constructed of red brick in 1868. The brackets under the eaves are Italianate and the elongated windows with elaborated surrounds, brick "pilasters" and symmetrical arrangement are out of a southern New Jersey tradition, although I have not yet traced the roots of these "bank front" churches to any specific building. The lower floor was used for Sunday school and other meetings and the upper for services. It has an unusually large seating capacity for a rural area.
Aldine is essentially a crossroads with a cluster of residences; when this building was erected the town was called Nazareth, and the congregation the Nazareth Methodist Episcopal Church. The congregation was organized in 1841 and this is the second building on the site.