Some of the early  ministers are buried in the basement!

When the original meetinghouse was torn down in 1823 to make way for the new building the congregation had to decide what to do with the graves of the three ministers buried behind the old meetinghouse.  Although there are no records of the decision made, apparently they felt it so important not to disturb the graves that they built the foundation around them, enclosing them in the basement.  The graves can still be seen via a trap door in the floor at the rear of the sanctuary.
 

Above is the grave of the Rev. Enos Ayres, the first pastor from 1759-1762. Ayres died while serving as pastor.  He was the first graduate from Princeton College in 1748.

This is the grave of the Rev. Samuel Parkhurst, who died in March, 1768 while serving as a supply preacher.  The stone is in rough shape, but the inscription is still legible:

Here lies interred the body of the
Revd. Mr. Samuel Parkhurst
who departed this life March, 1768
in ye 29th year of his age.
Beneath this mourning stone is contained
The ruins of a lovely tent
In whom such grace & virtue reigned
The friend, the husband, preacher, saint
What store of worth lay in his breast
No epitaph or fame can tell
Zions deep groans can but express
His wound when this young pillar fell.
Sweet soul we leave thee to thy rest
Enjoy thy Jesus and thy God
Till we from bonds of clay release
Spring out & climb the shining road.

The grave of the Rev. Benoni Bradner, pastor from 1786 to 1802.  The inscription reads:

In Memory of
The Revd.
BENONI BRADNER A.M.
Pastor of the Church of
Blooming Grove,
who departed this life
January 24th 1804,
In the 71st year of his age.
His hands, while they his alms bestowed.
His glory's future harvest sow'd:
The sweet remembrance of the just
Like a green root revives & bears
A train of blessings for his heirs
When dying nature sleeps in dust.