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

Saint Patrick's Pro-Cathedral
Newark, Essex County

Surprisingly, this is probably the oldest Catholic church in the state, begun in 1846 and completed three years later. It was reputedly designed by the priest at Saint John's, Father Moran, but with the considerable assistance of Patrick Keely. The style is French Gothic, which was preferred by Catholics to the English Gothic of the Episcopal Church. Jeremiah O'Rourke was involved in the renovation of 1874, but I don't know the extent of any alterations.
      This is the description of the building, written in 1883: "The Cathedral, located on the corner of Washington Street and Central Avenue, is of Gothic style, built of brick, and painted on the outside. The interior of the church is purely Gothic, the nave arches groined, and having fine plaster decorations; they rest upon beautifully carved capitals of light gray, which are supported by heavy cluster columns of solid brown stone. The side arches are also groined and decorated. There are several mullioned clear-story windows on each side."

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Copyright (c) 2001 Frank L. Greenagel