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Church History |
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In December, 1813, fourteen trustees were elected whose names are on the original charter. A copy of this charter (now hanging in the downstairs hallway) shows the charter date of March 23, 1814. The spiritual body of the church became a reality the same day with the election of a moderator and secretary and became The First Presbyterian Church in Kensington. Growth continued beyond capacity, and the present building was dedicated in 1859. At that time the Sunday School numbered over 500.
The building, including a steeple 180 feet high, cost $24,000 and the furnishings cost another $2,215. It was dedicated May 22, 1859. The first pastor was Rev. Dr. George Chandler, who lived less than a year after the dedication.
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This page last updated on June 1, 2008. |
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The very earliest record of The First Presbyterian Church in Kensington dates back to 1811. A Welsh minister, Mr. Jenkins, began Wednesday evening worship services in his new home on Crown (Crease) Street in Fishtown, the nickname given to Kensington in colonial days because many of it’s residents were fisherman by trade. With the help of the Evangelical Society of Philadelphia, Sunday afternoon and evenings services were added. The work grew so rapidly, it required Jenkins’ two sons and two other men to help him. The Evangelical Society sent Rev. Benjamin Wright. The number of worshippers grew and the group soon outgrew Mr. Jenkins’ home. Worship was moved to the Rice School House on Queen (Richmond) Street above Bishop (Berks) Street, but this also became too small. Faced with building a larger school or becoming a Presbyterian Church, the choice was the latter. A lot was purchased and a new church built on Palmer Street above Richmond. Worship began there in 1813. In front of today’s entrance is a marble “stepping stone” from the original church, but the inscription “Founded in 1813” has long since been worn away by the feet of worshippers. |
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Above: Copy of the charter dated March 23, 1814, establishing The First Presbyterian Church in Kensington.
Below: Stained glass window depicting the church as it was originally built with the 180 foot steeple. |
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The First Presbyterian Church in Kensington 418 E. Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA |
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Stained glass memorial to |
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Dome replacing the steeple. |
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Music for the services was first supplied by a melodeon and a little later, by an organ, both in the balcony at the rear of the sanctuary. In 1897, a pipe organ was installed at the front of the sanctuary, behind the pulpit, and a choir loft was built around the console. More recently, when it became necessary to have the organ rebuilt, the console was moved to the right of the choir loft on the main floor level.
Because of the continuing growth of the Sunday School, the “Annex” was built in 1884 on the site of two dwellings next door.
In 1921, the steeple reached a dangerous condition and was condemned. By vote of the congregation, the steeple was replaced by a copper dome, which today makes the church stand out as a landmark on Girard Avenue.
The beautiful stained-glass windows were not a part of the original building. When some changes were made to the sanctuary, the windows were installed. They are memorials to early members of the congregation. There are, however, two that bear special mention—the two at the front of the sanctuary facing the congregation. The one on the left is a memorial to the Rev. Dr. George Chandler, the first pastor of the church. The one on the right bears a name that is familiar to the Fishtown area, William Cramp, the owner of Cramp’s shipyard, who provided employment to a huge number of men.
The windows were painted by the artist William Reith. His process was to add the paint to the surface of the glass. This is in contrast to the more modern process of baking the color in the glass.
In 193+ years, this church has been served by the following pastors: 1814-1860 Rev. Dr. George Chandler 1860-1867 Rev. William T. Eva 1868-1906 Rev. J. Hervey Beale 1906-1934 Rev. Albert Barnes Henry 1934-1953 Dr. Earnest Nelson Feind 1954-1966 Rev. Earl Tyson 1967-1975 Rev. Myron A. Bellinger, Jr. 1977-1980 Rev. Peter W. Starr 1981-1992 Rev. Charles R. Schafer, Jr. 1992-2000 Rev. George Clayton Ames, III 2006-2008 Rev. Scott K. Bohr |
