St. George's United Methodist Church (Philadelphia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. George's Methodist Church
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(2013)
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 Location in Philadelphia
Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 324 New Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Built | 1763 |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000064 |
| Added to NRHP | May 27, 1971 |
St. George's United Methodist Church is a very old church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It's located in the Old City area, at 4th and New Streets. This church is special because it's the oldest Methodist church in the United States that has been used continuously since 1769.
The church community started in 1767. They first met in a "sail loft," which was a big room where sails for ships were made. In 1769, they bought a building that was just a shell. It had been built in 1763 by a different church group. Back then, Methodists were still part of the Anglican Church. The Methodist Episcopal Church, a separate group, didn't start until 1784.
Two important African Americans, Richard Allen and Absalom Jones, became the first black preachers licensed by the Methodist Church at St. George's in 1784. However, in 1787, they protested against unfair seating rules that separated black members. Allen then led many black members to leave St. George's. This led to the creation of the Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church and the African Methodist Episcopal church group. Jones later became an Episcopal priest and started the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas.
In the 1920s, the church was almost torn down to build the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. But a court case saved it! The bridge had to be moved to a different spot instead.
St. George's has changed a lot over its long history. In 1769, it had about 100 members. By 1835, it grew to a huge 3,200 members. But after the Civil War and as the neighborhood changed, the number of members dropped. By 1900, there were only 25 people left.
Today, St. George's is still an active and lively Methodist church. It continues to follow the same core values as the first Methodists who met there. These values include love, acceptance, and helping the community. The church is also working to make amends for past racial injustices.
Contents
How the Church Began
The St. George's church community started in 1767. They first met in a sail loft on Dock Street. After a few years, this early group moved to a "public house" at 8 Loxley Court. This house was owned by Benjamin Lowley, a well-known person in Philadelphia.
In England, the founder of Methodism, John Wesley, decided to send preachers to America. In 1769, Joseph Pilmore and Richard Boardman volunteered to come. They wanted to help the Methodist groups already forming in the colonies. They also wanted to build on the work of preachers like George Whitefield.
Pilmore and Boardman arrived in Philadelphia on October 21, 1769. Boardman then went to New York, while Pilmore stayed in Philadelphia. They would switch places every four months. In Philadelphia, Pilmore and Boardman met other Methodists like John Hood, Lambert Wilmer, Robert Williams, and the exciting Captain Thomas Webb. The group grew quickly, and they soon needed a bigger place to meet.
Buying the Church Building
On November 23, 1769, Joseph Pilmore wrote in his journal about needing a new place to preach. Their current meeting spot was too small, especially with winter coming. They couldn't find a suitable place. Then, they decided to buy a large, unfinished church building. It had been built by a German Presbyterian group but was left incomplete because they ran out of money.
The building was sold at a public auction for 700 pounds, even though it cost more than 2,000 pounds to build! The Methodists bought it for 650 pounds. Miles Pennington, a member of the Philadelphia Methodist group, made the purchase. On the same day, the Methodists took over the building and started worshiping there. They have been using it ever since.
The day after the purchase, Pilmore held a special service in the unfinished building. About 100 people attended. The building's cornerstone shows it was built in 1763. When the Methodists bought it, it was just a "shell." It had no paint, plaster, or finished inside. It also stood about two feet above the street, so you had to climb steps to enter.
The inside of the church was slowly finished over the years. In 1784, the walls were plastered. In 1790, the church got a proper floor and more comfortable seats. The upper seating areas, called galleries, were built in 1792. In 1800, a porch was added to the front door. Later, in 1836, the basement was dug out to create a lobby and a room for Sunday School. The porch was removed, and a window was put above the front door.
Francis Asbury and Early Methodist Meetings
Francis Asbury was a very important person in American Methodism. He later became one of the first two bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He arrived in America on October 27, 1771, after a long journey from England. He was welcomed at St. George's. Asbury wrote in his journal that the people were very happy to see them.
Asbury preached his first American sermon at St. George's the very next day. This was just one of about 16,500 sermons he would preach! He traveled over 270,000 miles across the colonies. Asbury served as a pastor at St. George's, but he also spent a lot of time traveling. He worked tirelessly to spread Methodism in the new American nation. He traveled mostly on horseback and helped more than 4,000 ministers become ordained over 45 years. The first important meeting where Asbury was in charge in Philadelphia happened at St. George's from September 22-26, 1788.
In 1773, Thomas Rankin, who was sent by John Wesley to lead American Methodists, called the first American Methodist meeting. Asbury and Rankin didn't get along well. At this meeting, Asbury was sent to Baltimore. Maryland was a strong area for Methodism at the time.
The American Revolution and the Church
The start of the American Revolution was a tough time for the young American Methodist Church. John Wesley, the founder, spoke out against the American uprising. This made him lose a lot of support in the colonies. Asbury refused to swear loyalty to the new American government and was fined. For 20 months during the war, Asbury hid at a Methodist judge's home in Delaware. With the colonies in chaos from the war, Asbury called a meeting of the northern preachers and took control of the American Methodist groups.
In 1776, the Revolution was in full swing. John Wesley's writings against the revolution made many people dislike Methodists. Francis Asbury was bothered several times. He was fined for preaching and once had his carriage shot at. He then went into hiding. Some Methodists were even put in jail or beaten for not supporting the rebellion.
In 1777, when the British army took over Philadelphia, St. George's Church was used as a hospital for a while. Then, it became a riding school for the cavalry. During this time, the St. George's community worshiped at First Baptist Church. For years after the war, British military items were found around the building. After the war, the church members started to rebuild the church. They put in floorboards, seats, and a pulpit. The church walls were plastered in 1784, and the galleries were added in 1790.
During the Revolution, there was a disagreement about American Methodists having to get religious services from Church of England priests. This eventually led to American Methodists completely separating from Wesley and Great Britain. They formed their own independent church. Wesley understood the situation and sent Dr. Thomas Coke to America. Coke was supposed to make Asbury a superintendent of the American church. But Asbury refused the title until all the preachers voted for him. This led to the Christmas Conference in Baltimore, from December 24, 1784, to January 3, 1785. At this meeting, both Asbury and Coke were chosen as Superintendents. This title was later changed to Bishop.
The African American Split
Early Methodists often spoke up for black members of their community, both enslaved and free. John Wesley, shortly before he died, wrote a letter against the terrible practice of slavery. Joseph Pilmore openly welcomed and helped the black community in Philadelphia.
St. George's Church gave licenses to Richard Allen and Absalom Jones in 1784. They were the first black lay preachers in Methodism. Richard Allen, who was born enslaved, bought his freedom two years later. In 1786, he started a group with 42 people and became its leader. In 1799, Allen became an ordained minister.
Allen and Jones's success brought many black worshipers to the church. However, problems arose due to racial tensions. The church started separating black members into a newly built upstairs gallery without telling them. One Sunday in 1787, white ushers tried to force Absalom Jones, a black member, to move to a different pew. They couldn't move him, but Allen, Jones, and the other black worshipers walked out of St. George's at the end of the service. They refused to come back.
This event led to the creation of two new churches: the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, with Jones as its first pastor, and Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, with Allen as its first pastor. Eventually, this led to the formation of the AME denomination.
On October 25, 2009, a special event called "The Great Gathering" took place at St. George's. For the first time since the historic walkout in 1787, the communities of Mother Bethel AME and St. George's gathered together for Sunday worship at St. George's.
Why the Church is Called St. George's
The building was originally meant to be a German Reformed Church. It was going to be called "Georg Kirchen" to honor King George III of Great Britain. At first, the Methodists called it "our new meeting house." But Joseph Pilmore likely suggested changing the name to St. George's. This name comes from Saint George, who is the patron saint of England. He was killed for his faith in the year 303.
Important Dates for St. George's
- 1769
- October 7 - The first Methodist Hymnal (songbook) was printed in America at St. George's.
- November 24 - Joseph Pilmore led the dedication service and preached the first sermon in this building. St. George's has been used continuously for God and Methodism ever since.
- December 3 - Pilmore shared the rules and beliefs for American Methodists for the first time.
- December 8 - The first formal prayer meeting organized by American Methodists took place.
- 1770
- March 23 - The first "Love Feast" for Methodists was held by Pilmore.
- November 1 - America's first Watch Night Service (a special service held on the eve of a new year or important event).
- December 31 - The first New Year's Eve Watch Night Service at St. George's, possibly the first in America.
- 1771
- October 28 - Francis Asbury preached his first American sermon at St. George's.
- 1773
- July 14 - The First Conference of American Methodism happened at St. George's. The second (May 25, 1774) and third (May 17, 1775) conferences also took place here.
- 1775
- Thomas Rankin noted that many members of the Continental Congress came to St. George's to worship. This included famous people like John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross, and Dolly Madison.
- 1776
- Robert Morris, a banker and merchant, attended St. George's New Year's Eve Watch Night Service. The next morning, he successfully raised money for George Washington's army.
- 1784
- November 7 - At St. George's, Dr. Thomas Coke publicly presented John Wesley's plan for how the Methodist Episcopal Church in America would be run.
- 1785
- St. George's licensed Richard Allen and Absalom Jones, the first African American Lay Preachers of Methodism. Their successful preaching brought many African Americans to the church. However, racial tensions grew, and unfair seating rules for black members led Allen and Jones to lead the African American community in a historic walkout. This led to the creation of the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas and Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church.
- 1789
- August 17 - Reverend John Dickins opened the first Methodist Bookstore at St. George's. This was the beginning of the Methodist Publishing House and today's Cokesbury Book Stores.
- 1791
- The church helped organize the first Sunday School Association that included different church groups.
- 1794
- November - The African Zoar M.E. Church, led by Harry Hosier, was officially recognized.
- 1952
- June 17 - The Northeastern Jurisdictional Board of Lay Activities was started here.
- 1971
- March 29 - St. George's was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1993
- January 20 - White clergy from Philadelphia gathered at St. George's. They apologized for the sin of racism and how Mother Bethel AME's founders were treated unfairly.
- 2009
- October 25 - "The Great Gathering" took place. Mother Bethel AME and St. George's congregations worshiped together at St. George's for the first time since the walkout of 1787.
Images for kids
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St. George's United Methodist Church in 2013.
