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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   Photographic Inventory

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church
Elmer, Salem County

St. Ann's is located in a mixed residential-industrial neighborhood, a few blocks from the center of town. Protestant-dominated villages regarded Catholic, Methodist and African churches as somewhat less than respectable, and no credit to a town, so were often relegated to the outskirts—certainly they were not permitted to build in a prominent location if at all possible. There are many similar situations in this state where those denominations found it difficult or impossible to buy land near the center of town, even towards the end of the nineteenth century. But by this time, both the Catholic and Methodist churches had far outstripped all others in terms of membership, and some of the prejudice had begun to ease up.
     St. Ann's is a modest relatively unadorned three bay frame building with round arch windows, an oculus above the entrance and a small belfry

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Copyright (c) 2001 Frank L. Greenagel