A Semi-centenary Discourse delivered in the First African Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, on the fourth Sabbath of May, 1857/Appendix
APPENDIX.
Conceiving that a synoptical history of all the colored churches in the city of Philadelphia, would be of some interest to the reader, I have undertaken to insert in this work when each church was founded, the number of members at present, the size of each building, also the value of each, and a short account of any matter that may be of interest.
There are in the city 18 churches, to wit:—
1. A. M. E. BETHEL CHURCH.
This church is located in South Sixth Street, east side, between Lombard and Pine. It was founded in 1816 as an African M. E. Church by Richard Allen; it is a large brick edifice substantially built, plain, but neat; it is 62 feet wide, TO feet long, with a basement story divided into a lecture room, class rooms, and minister's study with a library attached. The church and lot upon which it stands, together with other property owned by the corporation, are at the lowest possible estimate, valued at $60,000; the audience room is very capacious, and for neatness is equalled but by few churches in the city; it is rated to seat about 2500 persons. The church is composed of 1100 communicant members. It has a Sabbath school containing 350 children, 2 superintendents, and 25 teachers (11 males and 14 females). This church was the first African Methodist Episcopal Church organized in the United States; its branches at present extend nearly over the whole Union. The aggregate membership is about 30,000. Rt. Rev. Richard Allen was the first bishop; since there have been five more ordained, to wit, Rt. Revds. Edward Waters, Morris Brown, Wm. Paul Qninn, Willis Nazry, and Daniel A. Payne; the three last are at present the acting bishops, the others being dead.
2. UNION A. M. E. CHURCH.
This church is located, in Coates St., N. L., between Fifth and Fourth Streets. It is a brick edifice, 68 feet long, by 38 feet wide; it has a basement in which are a lecture room and two class rooms. The audience room is very tastefully finished, well ventilated, and will compare with any of our churches for neatness. It was founded in 1816, and at present contains a membership of 297 communicants; the church is rated to seat 800 persons. It has a Sabbath-school attached, with 160 scholars, 10 male teachers, and 8 females. There is a fine library attached to the school. The building and lot are valued at $14,000.
3. A. M. E. WESLEY CHURCH.
This is a neat little brick superstructure located in Hurst St. between Lombard and South, Fifth and Sixth Sreets; it will seat about 500 persons. The church was founded in 1834; there are 300 members. There is also a basement to this building, in which are a lecture room, three class rooms, and a minister's studio. There is a Sabbath-school of 27 children, 3 male and 2 female teachers. The entire property is valued at $6,000.
4. AFRICAN M. E. MISSION.
This is a brick building 22 feet long by 18 feet wide. The building and lot are valued at $800, will seat 250 persons. This mission was commenced in 1852; at present there is a membership of 120 persons. In the Sabbath-school are 68 children. The mission is under the charge of the Rev. Stephen Smith, the city missionary of the A. M. E. Church. The church is located in South Seventh Street, below Dickson St., Southwark.
5. A. M. E. ALLEN CHAPEL.
A wooden building 20 feet long by 16 wide, and together with the lot is valued at $400. It is situated in Christian Street below South Second Street; it contains a membership of 30 persons, and will accommodate 150 persons with seats. Attached is a Sabbath-school of 28 children. This mission is also under the care of Rev. S. Smith.
6. ZOAR METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This church is situated in Brown St., N. L., between Fifth and Fourth Streets, and is in connection with the M. E. Church. Supposed to have 150 members, and Sabbath-school children, 75. The building is of brick; will seat about 400 persons; has a basement with lecture room and two class rooms. The edifice is about 60 feet long, by about 35 wide. The audience room is plain and well finished. It has no side galleries, but one on the end. Valued about $12,000.
7. ST. THOMAS PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL.
This edifice is of brick, and stands at the corner of Adelphi and Fifth St., between Locust and Walnut. The building is about 60 feet long, and about 40 wide. There is a large lecture room and minister's library in the basement. The audience room is a fine specimen of architectural finish, differing materially from the finish of the other churches. Attached to the building is a vestry room. There are 337 adult members in communion. The building in the audience room will seat on the lower floor and galleries, about 800 persons. The church has attached an interesting Sabbath-school of 145 children, 5 males, and seven females, teachers. It was founded in 1794. Wm. Gray, Absalom Jones, Wm. White, Wm. Gardner, Henry Stewart, and Wm. Wiltshire, were the founders and trustees. The entire property, including the large lot upon which the church stands, together with the parsonage, is valued at $40,000.
8. WESLEY METHODIST CHURCH.
This is a neat brick edifice, located in Lombard St., between South Sixth and Fifth Sts.; it was founded in 1820, Mr. Josiah Blue at the time the minister. The building is 60 feet long, 42 wide, and is rated to seat 800 persons. For style and finish it is not surpassed by any of the colored churches in Philadelphia. There are 500 communicant members. Attached is a Sabbath-school of 165 children, 10 males and 12 females, teachers. This building, also, has a basement with class rooms and minister's study. The entire property is valued at $20,000.
9. ISRAEL CONGREGATIONAL METHODIST.
This building stands at the corner of South Fifth and Gaskill Sts., between Lombard and South Sts. It is a very old brick edifice, and wears a very antiquated appearance inside and out. It is a large edifice, being 12 long, and 41 feet wide. It has no basement; will seat about 2,000 persons. It was founded as a Congregational church in 1850. There are about 200 members to this church. Property valued about $18,000.
10. JOHN WESLEY M. E. CHURCH.
This church is in Shippen St. between Seventh and Eighth Sts. It is a small brick building 45 feet long by 23 feet wide. The church was founded in 1844, by Rev. Geo. Valentine. There are at present 100 members. It will seat about 200 persons. This property is valued at $4,000.
11. 1st AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH, FOUNDED IN 1830.
This is the first colored Baptist Church organized in Philadelphia, Rev. Mr. King being the founder. The house is of brick; in the interior or audience room it may be said to be beautiful to behold. The building is 48 feet by 40. It will seat about 350 persons. The property is valued at $5,000. It is located in Pearl St. near Eleventh and between Vine and Wood Sts. There are 200 members belonging to this church, mostly young persons ; there are 130 children in the Sabbath-school.
12. UNION BAPTIST CHURCH.
Was founded in 1832 by the Rev. Daniel Scott. There are at present 260 members, with a Sabbath-school attached of 91 scholars, 9 teachers, 4 males and five females. The edifice is of brick, 51 by 32 feet; it has a basement with lecture room and minister's studio. The audience room will accommodate about 500 persons. In appearance, either inside or out, this church will compare favorably with any of our churches. It is located in Little Pine St., between South Sixth and Seventh Sts. The property is valued at $5,000.
13. SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH.
Located near corner Clifton and South Sts. Was organized in 1842, Rev. John F. Raymond, minister. The building is of brick, 54 by 40 feet in dimension; it has a basement with lecture room and minister's studio. The audience room is of plain, neat finish, and will seat comfortably about 600 persons. There are 225 members in communion with this church. A Sabbath-school with 85 scholars and 8 teachers, 7 of which are females. The entire property is valued at $11,000.
14. CHURCH OP THE CRUCIFIXION.
This church was organized in 1850, and is under the Protestant Episcopal Mission, better known as the Episcopal Mission Station, and under the supervision of the Rev. George Bringhurst. It is located in South Eighth St., between Shippen and South. It is a brick building about 55 feet long by 40 feet wide, and will seat about 500 persons. There is no basement; the audience room being on the first floor, includes the entire inner space from the floor to the rafters, which gives it a very airy as well as commodious appearance. The finish is very plain, though neat; it has recently been remodelled. This church was originally intended for poor colored people, and was to be considered a free church as it still is; but such was the increase of white people upon the ministry of Mr. Bringhurst, that it was found necessary to receive white persons to membership. There are, however, in communion with this church 50 colored members, 300 colored Sabbath-school children, taught by 20 white teachers, males and females, who have devoted their attention and time to their religious culture. In connection, there is a day (parochial) school, comprising 80 scholars.
15. UNION METHODIST CHURCH.
16. 1st AFRICAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This building stands on South Seventh St., near the corner of Shippen St. The exterior of this building is very plain, the interior very creditable; as it has been very recently remodelled. It will seat very comfortably about 900 persons. The church was founded in 1807, and at present numbers about 180 communicant members. There is a Sabbath-school attached, consisting of 61 children, 2 male and 3 female teachers. There is a library attached of 271 volumes. The property is valued at $8,000.
17. SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This is a fine, modern built brick edifice, 37 by 51, located in St. Mary St., between South Sixth and Seventh Sts., founded in 1824, then Old School, but now under the New School. The interior of the church is very neat; it will seat about 450 persons comfortably. There is a basement to this church; it is divided into lecture room, session room, and a minister's studio. Through a division that took place whereby nearly one-half of the members left, there are now but 75 persons members of the church. There is a Sabbath-school connected with the church, containing 30 children, 3 male and 3 female teachers. The property is valued at $6,000.
18. CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This church was founded in 1844 by Rev. Stephen Gloucester, a son of Rev. John Gloucester. The edifice is a very fine brick building, tastily finished externally. Within, it is very handsomely completed in its architecture and furniture. The building is 60 feet long by 38 feet wide, and will seat comfortably about 600 persons. It has a basement with a lecture room, session room, and minister's studio, with a fine library attached. There are 260 members in communion. There is a Sabbath-school of 75 children, 6 male and 6 female teachers. The property is valued at $15,000.
To sum up the aggregate of all these churches, we arrive at the following result:—
18 churches capable of accommodating 11,000 persons.
4354 communicant members. 1615 children taught in the sabbath-schools.
Value of church property, $227, 200.
When we consider that there are in the city of Philadelphia about 30,000 people of color, we see there is still room for further effort in filling up these churches. And may we not hope that God's blessing will still be upon us, and, trusting upon his favor and loving kindness, and with hearts filled with thankfulness for his past mercies, go forward, and, with united hearts, do with all our might what our hands find to do. And now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the Church by Jesus Christ throughout all ages world without end. Amen.