The authoritative source on
  early churches of New Jersey

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We've created a database and photographic inventory on more than half the 18th & 19th century churches in the state and add to it each month. We welcome and solicit all contributions and suggestions from our visitors.

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12th Avenue/Calvary Baptist Church
Belmar, Monmouth County

The Baptist church in Belmar (then called Ocean Beach) was founded in 1896 as a Sunday School, and called the Gruelle Memorial. The congregation built a small church at 12th & E Street, called the 12th Avenue Baptist Church, which was later turned into a social hall when the congregation built a larger church in 1906. In 1925 both buildings were moved to 13th & E Street, joined and the two were renamed the Calvary Baptist Church. It is difficult to tell which part is the old 12th Avenue Baptist building erected in
1896, but I assume the extension to the right in the above photograph
is the former social hall. The plan is a fairly common one, probably based on a plan book of the period, most likely a design of benjamin Price. The Methodist church in Farmingdale has a very similar plan and front and side elevation. The small steeple must be a replacement, as it is out of proportion with the tower it rests on. The entrance is through the corner tower, a convention we have seen often in the region. The building is now clad in aluminum.

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Copyright (c) 2005 Frank L. Greenagel