Tabernacle of Faith Church, Camden

Tabernacle of Faith Church is linked to two related Camden congregations. The present building, once Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church, grew from First Methodist Episcopal, the city’s Methodist “Mother Church,” and was organized by 45 members. Its 1867 cornerstone held old coins, local newspapers, and a photograph of Bishop Matthew Simpson. The church later connected with Tabernacle Methodist Episcopal, whose former site was eventually cleared for the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.

The present sanctuary was designed by Frank Rushmore Watson, a Philadelphia architect known for church work across the Northeast. Built of dark Trenton brownstone, it reflects the Gothic Revival style through pointed openings, strong vertical lines, and a heavy, lasting presence. The interior was designed with amphitheater-style seating for about 750 people, improving visibility and sound during services. The wider Methodist history of the site also includes a free-seating tradition, which made worship more accessible to working-class residents during Camden’s industrial era.

Inside, one of the main features of interest is the stained glass. The dark exterior makes the stained glass especially vivid from inside, where colour softens the heavy stonework. Preservation support from the New Jersey Historic Trust has helped protect the windows and historic fabric. The church reflects Camden’s faith, architecture, and urban change.