Publisher's Synopsis
Each of the 118 surviving churches and meetinghouses from Monmouth County's early history is portrayed in this richly-illustrated guide, with special attention to their founding, construction and architectural style. This is a substantial reference work--a comprehensive interpretive history of all the 18th and 19th century religious structures in the county. Why churches look the way they do is often explained in terms of regionalism, liturgical requirements, denominational or national traditions, the availability of building materials and/or local construction practices, the affluence of the congregation, and the influence of a fine model. All of those reasons can be pointed to at various times and places in New Jersey; none is more important than any other in general, but any may be the decisive factor for a specific church. This volume will allow readers to look anew at the architectural traditions of Monmouth, providing information for curious congregation members and historians alike.
