Tennent, NJ (USA): Old Tennent Church

 

The Old Tennent Church, or as it's currently known, Old Tennent Presbyterian Church was founded in 1692. Church history marks this as the year the congregation formed and purchased land. A second plot was purchased in 1731 and it was upon this site that the present building was situated. The 1730 date on the card seems to correspond with this later building undertaking, rather than the actual establishment of the congregation. Apparently The Rev. Mr Tennent, second pastor, experienced some sort of religious ecstasy and fell into a trance (according to information on the reverse of the card). He was pastor for this congregation for 43 years and was buried beneath the building. The present website does not mention either of these bits of information. My unused card shows the front of the church with its raised pulpit and organ beside. The building is two storied, and one can see pillars supporting the wrap-around second level of seating in the card. The present building was built in 1751 and restored 1985-1988.  

The Organ Historical Society's database lists two instruments associated with the Tennent Presbyterian Church. The earliest is a Moeller instrument (Opus 86) of one manual from the 1880's. A second installed in 1934, Moeller Opus 6275 of 8 ranks. This is probably the instrument shown in the image below. The organ on my postcard above seems to have a single manual, so it may be the earlier instrument from the 1880's.