Germantown, First Presbyterian Church in Germantown

According to the Historical Directory of Presbyterian Churches and Presbyteries of Greater Philadelphia: Related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its Antecedents, 1690-1990, by Kenneth A. Hammonds, the First Presbyterian Church in Germantown began as a splinter group, who wanted services in English. The group split off from the Market Square German Reformed Church. The new congregation began to hold meetings in the home of Rev. Samuel Blair. The church was officially organized in 1811. The Westside Presbyterian Church, also located in Germantown, merged into the First Presbyterian Church in 1972. The First Presbyterian Church in Germantown still stands on West Chelten Avenue in Germantown.

A search of our catalogs shows the following records of the First Presbyterian Church in Germantown deposited in our holdings which contain genealogical information:

• Pew rents, 1852-1868 (19 0202 13E/13F, box 1)
• Pew rents, 1852-1870 (19 0202 13E/13F, box 1)
• Pew rents, 1868-1872 (19 0202 13E/13F, box 1)
• Building Committee, 1811-1812; English Presbyterian congregation (aka Shiloh Independent Church) minutes and membership roll, 1816-1818
  (19 0202 13E/13F, box 1)
• Subscription lists, 1811 (19 0202 13E/13F, box 6)
• Burial register, 1845-1857 (19 0202 13E/13F, box 6)

Publications in our holdings containing genealogical information include:

• Manual of the First Presbyterian Church of Germantown, Philadelphia ...: November 1899; including membership directory. (Call number: PAM. BX 9211 .P49144 F502 1899)
   
• Year-book of the First Presbyterian Church in Germantown, Philadelphia; including membership directory for 1902-1915, 1923, 1928, 1931-1932, 1936-1940, 1942-1947, 1949. (Call number: BX 9211 .P49144 F502)
   
• Encyclopaedia of the First Presbyterian Church in Germantown by John Clark Finney; including pastor histories, burials, removal of bodies, elders, early church members, board of trustee members, board of deacons.  (Call number: F ML 67.2 F497)

The First Presbyterian Church of Germantown is an active congregation and still holds session minutes and registers. You may wish to contact them directly:

Clerk of Session
First Presbyterian Church in Germantown
35 W. Chelten Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19144-2701
www.fpcgermantown.org
215-843-8811

Source:
Hammonds, Kenneth A. Historical Directory of Presbyterian Churches and Presbyteries of Greater Philadelphia : Related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and Its Antecedents, 1690-1990. Philadelphia, PA: Presbyterian Historical Society, 1993.