Church of St. John The Evangelist and Cemetery

St. John the Evangelist Church and Cemetery
1720 Old Black Horse Pike
Map / Directions to St. John the Evangelist Church and Cemetery
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The Church

The cemetery of St. John the Evangelist Church contains the grave of Aaron Chew (Dec. 19, 1751 - Sep. 3, 1805). Chew served as a second lieutenant in the Gloucester County Militia during the Revolutionary War. He was captured by the British in 1780, held as a prisoner of war, and later freed in a prisoner exchange.[3]

As described below, Aaron played an important role in the founding of this church, which also involved other Revolutionary War notables.

The Church [4]

The church building which stands here today was built in 1880-1881. It stands on the same land as an earlier church building, built in 1789-1790. When funds were needed to complete the church, Aaron Chew worked to raise the money. As part of his fundraising, he traveled to Philadelphia, which was then serving as the national capital, to raise money.

While in Philadelphia, Aaron received donations from notable Revolutionary War figures, including George Washington, who was then serving as the nation's first President, and James Madison, who was then serving in the House of Representatives. Among the other donors were:

Three signers of the Declaration of Independence: Abraham Clark, who signed for New Jersey, George Reed who signed for Delaware, and Charles Carroll who signed for Maryland.

Jonathan Dayton and William Paterson, who both signed the United States Constitution for New Jersey

Philemon Dickinson, who commanded the New Jersey militia during the Revolutionary War.

Frederick Muhlenberg, the first Speaker of the House in the United States Congress.