06/05/2026
As part of our ongoing celebrations of America 250, we are highlighting notable sites that reflect the history of Mendham Borough. Hilltop Cemetery and Church stand as powerful reminders of Mendham’s early years and our relationship with our countries fight for independence.
The current site of Hilltop Church traces its origins to 1745, when the original structure was first built. After being enlarged and later lost to two fires, the present building was constructed around 1860. In early 1777, during a smallpox outbreak affecting Mendham and soldiers at nearby Jockey Hollow, the church was opened as a hospital. Twenty-seven soldiers died there and were buried in a common grave behind the church, which can still be visited today.
As you walk through Hilltop Cemetery, you may notice a section enclosed by a stone fence. This area has a unique history. William Phoenix, a member of the church and owner of the Phoenix House, was denied burial in the cemetery due to his operation of a bar at his inn. Instead, he purchased adjacent land for his family and enclosed it with the stone wall that still stands today. Although this plot was never part of the original church property, it has since been incorporated into the grounds of the Mendham Cemetery Association. As we commemorate 250 years of independence, both Hilltop Church and Cemetery serves as powerful reminders of the places and people that shaped both Mendham and our nation.
