A Short History
Church of the Incarnation has a long and storied history in the Bergen Hill section of Jersey City. Before it was organized in 1910, Jersey City blacks were denied entrance to other white Episcopal churches in the area. Many families ferried across the Hudson River to attend church at St. Phillip's Episcopal Church until that congregation, in April 1908, moved into its new quarters uptown, in Harlem. Making the trek across river and uptown proved too challenging for most of Jersey City's black Episcopalians. After unsuccessful renewed attempts to find welcome at local Episcopal churches, a core group determined that the only solution was to build their own church.
Eleven stalwart black Episcopalians, most of them women, forged what would become Church of the Incarnation. On December 10, 1910, with the support of the Recto of Grace Church, Van Vorst, Church of the Incarnation became a mission church. The fledgling congregation met on and off for many years in a room in the African American Women's Industrial Club at 104 Harrison Street, paying $6.00 a month rent. Neighboring white rectors and their congregations donated furniture and other liturgical items for the new congregation.
The early years were hard and the mission church closed after a year, only to reopen with renewed purpose and energy. In 1912, the mission came under the leadership of the Rector of St. Phillip's Church in Newark. The congregation grew steadily and the members purchased a building at 68 Storms Avenue where the first services were held on that site in October 1916. Shortly thereafter, the congregation purchased the adjoining lot at 70 Storms Avenue to preserve their control over the adjacent land.
On June 3, 1928, the congregation broke ground for the construction of the edifice we now know as Church of the Incarnation. The members worshiped in the "House of Friendliness" branch of the YWCA at 43 Belmont Avenue during the construction of the new church. On December 1, 1928, the Bishop of Newark dedicated the new church. Christmas Eve 1928, saw the services held in the new building, when several hundred people gathered.
Over the years, the congregation accomplished many goals and overcame numerous obstacles. The members retired the mortgage, which had grown through the Depression years. They made major contributions to such charitable organizations as the United Negro College Fund and the NAACP. Incarnation counts amongst its members children who went on to become professionals and recognized leaders in many fields.
Today, Incarnation is striving to meet new challenges by becoming an open and welcoming congregation for all God's people. Incarnation is working hard to grow into the kind of faith community that invites God's people into transformation and renewal, into discovery and spiritual growth. We hope you will want to become a part of our wonderful history by joining us today.