Madison Religious Sites in Proximity to Grocery Stores/Convenience Shops
Religious sites have allowed community members in Madison Borough to come together during times of suffering, as well as during moments of joy. As 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profits, these religious organizations are managed under the Madison Zoning Department, which is responsible for evaluating and approving local construction plans. Several religious buildings, including the Webb Memorial Chapel (Presbyterian Church of Madison), erected in the 19th century, are found within historic downtown Madison. The compilation of Madison’s religious organizations is backed by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, which helps enforce an environment where people of all religions are treated equally.
Identifying religious sites within town allows individuals to be better aware of local institutions they could turn to, in order to strengthen their own faith and build community. This map showcases religious organizations currently operating in town. By clicking on each star symbol within the map, one could learn more about the religious site’s name, address, phone number, and accompanying website. Grocery stores and convenience shops are also presented, including their name, address, and phone number, for those interested in exploring nearby food sources.
The map above displays religious sites in proximity to grocery stores and convenience shops. To access the legend, click the button in the upper right-hand corner.
The star symbol indicates Madison Borough’s religious sites, where each color represents a different affiliation. This includes 7 churches of the Protestant faith (3 Baptist, 2 Episcopal, 1 Methodist, and 1 Presbyterian), 2 of the Catholic faith, and 1 of the Jewish faith. The darkened circles display grocery stores and convenience shops in town.
“St. Vincent Martyr Catholic Church in Madison, New Jersey,” photographed by Dan Beards, Flickr
All of the religious sites are less than 5 miles from grocery stores and/or convenience shops. In fact, 70% of these religious organizations are within 1 mile of a store/shop, which is convenient for patrons without access to personal or public transportation.
Being aware of the religious institutions present can allow individuals to recognize the population demographics of the Madison community. This understanding can help bring about inclusivity with a commingling of the various denominations. With some of the religious sites being listed as historic properties, such as St. Vincent Martyr Church, Bethel A.M.E. Church, and Presbyterian Church of Madison, a link to the past is established. Additionally, mapping the location of grocery and convenience stores in relation to these 501(c)(3) non-profits permits congregants to frequent these establishments more readily.
“St. Vincent Church,” photographed by Loci Lenar, Flickr
About the Data Source:
Ashley Rogers created the original data layers displayed above by geocoding each religious site, grocery store, and convenience shop in Madison. She then georeferenced the addresses using Google Maps. To access the data, please click here.
Rogers, Ashley (2024). “Religious Sites, Grocery Stores, and Convenience Shops in Madison, New Jersey,” available on ArcGIS.com: https://arcg.is/11jPj10.
Download a one-page slide on religious sites here.
