Guide to the Walnut Street Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.) Records

In 1808, William Hamilton of West Philadelphia donated land to the community for the erection of a Presbyterian church. Legal requirements stipulated that a church had to be constructed on the designated site within twenty years. In 1828, a small building was erected at Walnut Street west of Thirty-Ninth; this became known as the Walnut Street Church. For ten years the Presbyterians of Philadelphia sporadically worshipped there. In 1838, under the leadership of the Rev. John McKnight, the church was formally organized. It grew quickly in membership, physical appearance and spiritual prestige. Numerous enlargement programs were conducted which resulted in the emergence of a Gothic brownstone cathedral. Under successive clergy a large Sunday school, Bible study and library were added to the existing building.