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

Lafayette Baptist Church
Lafayette Township, Sussex County

I came across this church late in the afternoon and although I looked everywhere for some sign of what it was or had been, there was no name or iconography. From its size and style, I guessed it was built as a Methodist church, but a correspondent mentioned a discussison with a local realtor who knew something of the history of the property identified at as the town's Baptist church. About the same time another reader checked with her sources and confirmed the identity of this and three other old churches in the immediate area.
     The Lafayette Baptist congregation was organized in 1831 as the First Baptist Church of Newton, when they built their first church, but this building—certainly the tower/belfry and entrance, date to a much later period—probably the 1880s or so. The Baptist congregation remains active in the area, but I have not spoken with them about the history of their church.