The History of the Building
“Medieval-style rusticated stone church
with double-arched entry and large arch over skylight. Gabled
front, four-story rectangular tower at corner; second entrance from North 35th
Street into tower; two-story nave with pointed and rounded arches along North
35th Street. Architect: Thomas W. Richards.”
(Inventory of Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National
Register of Historic Places, 1985)
The
Northminster Presbyterian Church was dedicated in 1875. The early history of the Church was described
in 1895:
“This church is an outgrowth of a
union Sabbath-school started at the corner of Thirty-third and Spring Garden
Streets about the year 1837. A church building was first erected at the corner
of Thirty-fifth and Spring Garden Streets, the corner-stone having been laid
September, 1846. On September 29th, 1846, there was effected an organization
under the name of the "First Presbyterian Church of Mantua."
“In January, 1871, there was secured
at the corner of Thirty-fifth and Baring a lot of ground for a new church, and
on the sixteenth day of September the corner-stone was laid. The
“The earlier Pastors of the church
were Rev. W.
“In May, 1883, the present Pastor,
Rev. Robert H. Fulton,
“In 1887 the tower of the church was
finished, the roof reset, the frescoing renewed, and the stonework cleaned and
pointed. The balance of ground-rent remaining was also paid, and $10,000
pledged to relieve the church property of all incumbrances.
The present membership of the church
is 559 and of the Sabbath-school 482. The Ruling Elders are John Shedwick [3408 Race
St.], George W. Niemann [3405
Baring], Edward P. Alexander [306 N. 35th],
William W. Fiske [3313
Hamilton], Andrew McKinstry [3311
Hamilton], and William W. Barr.”
(The Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. Rev. William P. White and William H. Scott. 1895.)
Rev. Smith
married into a family that was involved with the Northminster Presbyterian
church for four generations. Their story
is summarized in an entry in the Powelton
History Blog.
1893:
“REV. DR. FULTON IS DEAD
He Was the
Honored Pastor of the Northminster Presbyterian Church.
ILL SEVERAL
MONTHS
Death Was Due
to Typhoid Fever.
Sketch of the
Career of the Well-Known Divine
“Rev. Dr. Robert H. Fulton, pastor
of the Northminster Presbyterian Church, West Philadelphia died yesterday at
home, 3420
Hamilton street, of typhoid fever, after an illness of several months. He
was able to move about the house on Saturday and Sunday, but yesterday morning he become very weak and Dr. Hill, his medical attendant, who
was out of the City, was telegraphed for and promptly returned to the city. Dr.
Fulton was, however, found to be beyond medical aid and died without much
apparent suffering.
“An effort was made a short-time ago
to get him to Colorado, but his condition did not warrant his removal. A widow
and one child survive him.
“Dr. Fulton was born in Washington county, Pa., about four miles above Monongahela. He entered
Washington and Jefferson College when he was 17 years old and graduated with
honors in 1866. He then took a course in the Allegheny Theological Seminary and
graduated in April, 1872. While a student
in the seminary he received a call from the Second Presbyterian Church of
Baltimore, which he accepted, and soon after his graduation he commenced his
labors in that city.
“In June 1883, he became pastor of
the Northminster Presbyterian Church of this city. Under his management the
church has been greatly strengthened and he occupied a conspicuous place as a
pastor. Dr. Fulton was a member of the Church Extension Committee of the
Presbytery of Philadelphia, a member of the Presbyterian Board of Publication
and a trustee or the Presbyterian Hospital.
“The funeral will take place on
Thursday from the Northminster Church.”
(Phila. Inquirer, July13, 1897)
Photo: Rev. Fulton; taken when he
was Pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Baltimore before coming to
Philadelphia.
1895: “PASTOR INSTALLED
“Impressive Services at Northminster
Presbyterian Church
“Northminster
Presbyterian Church, Thirty-fifth and Baring streets, was crowded last night at
the installation services of the new pastor, Joseph Wilson Cochran…. Rev. J. M.
Crowell [3416
Powelton Ave. c1890], D. D., whose family were connected with the church a
number of years, offered the installation prayer, which was the crowning
feature of a most impressive service. Mr. Cochran is a very young man to
shoulder so great a responsibility, but the people have every reason to believe
he will be equal to the position. He comes from good stock. His father is a
lawyer in Chicago and was for many years on the circuit bench of central
Illinois. His mother is a gifted
writer. He was born in Peoria, Ill., in
1867. He graduated from McCormick
Theological Seminary in Chicago, in 1893 with honors. During the summers of 1891 and 1892 he acted
as assistant pastor of the First Presbyterian Churches in Los Angeles and
Tacoma. He was called from the seminary
to Christ Presbyterian Church, Madison, Wis., where he closed a remarkable
successful five years’ ministry on April 24 last. He comes to a prominent
church, which has received him with the greatest enthusiasm, and he enters upon
his untried duties with the prestige of success, a worthy successor of the late
Dr. Fulton, that prince of preachers whose fourteen years pastorate closed with
his death last summer.”
(Phila. Inquirer, May 11, 1898)
Rev. Cochran lived at 3302
Baring St. with his family.
1909: Pastor: W.
Courtland Robinson, D.D. who lived at 3504
Baring St.
1928: Carillon bells were installed in the church tower
1946: The Northminster Presbyterian moved to Drexel Hill,
Pa. In 1957, the bells were moved to a
new carillon tower at the church’s new location. In 1975, Northminster merged with
1956: The church was sold to Metropolitan Baptist Church.
Revised
6/27/2011