Know Your Neighborhood: Old First Reformed Church
Old First Reformed Church of the United Church of Christ (originally the German Reformed Church) is located at 151 N. 4th St (at Race St).
On September 21, 1727, the Rev. George Michael Weiss and 400 members of the German Reformed Church arrived in Philadelphia and organized in 1727 to became Philadelphia's Old First Reformed Church. The first church building, a hexagonal structure, was completed in December 1747.
In 1774, the congregation replaced the hexagonal church with a new and larger building to accommodate the growing number of worshippers. During the American Revolution, the British Army that occupied Philadelphia used the church as a hospital and later as a stable.
In the 1830s, deterioration of the church building and growing traffic noise on Race Street caused the congregation to build a third church, which opened in 1837. This building had the same dimensions as the second church, but was rotated 180 degrees and set back farther from the street, in an effort to reduce the impact of street noise.
This third church is a restrained example of the Greek Revival style. It has Flemish bond brick, a symmetrical plan, pedimented front façade, marble watertable, and molded wood cornice, all key elements of the Greek Revival style.
During the 2nd half of the nineteenth century, the area around the church became increasingly industrial and commercial, displacing many members who had lived nearby. In 1882 the congregation moved to another location and sold the building to John Lucas & Co for use as a paint warehouse.
In 1966 the congregation (now located in West Phila.) voted to purchase the original 4th & Race St. site and adjacent lots from the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. The building, then vacant, had been in use as a paint warehouse for much of the early 20th century. It took four years to restore the church to it's former self.
On September 21, 1727, the Rev. George Michael Weiss and 400 members of the German Reformed Church arrived in Philadelphia and organized in 1727 to became Philadelphia's Old First Reformed Church. The first church building, a hexagonal structure, was completed in December 1747.
In 1774, the congregation replaced the hexagonal church with a new and larger building to accommodate the growing number of worshippers. During the American Revolution, the British Army that occupied Philadelphia used the church as a hospital and later as a stable.
In the 1830s, deterioration of the church building and growing traffic noise on Race Street caused the congregation to build a third church, which opened in 1837. This building had the same dimensions as the second church, but was rotated 180 degrees and set back farther from the street, in an effort to reduce the impact of street noise.
This third church is a restrained example of the Greek Revival style. It has Flemish bond brick, a symmetrical plan, pedimented front façade, marble watertable, and molded wood cornice, all key elements of the Greek Revival style.
During the 2nd half of the nineteenth century, the area around the church became increasingly industrial and commercial, displacing many members who had lived nearby. In 1882 the congregation moved to another location and sold the building to John Lucas & Co for use as a paint warehouse.
In 1966 the congregation (now located in West Phila.) voted to purchase the original 4th & Race St. site and adjacent lots from the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. The building, then vacant, had been in use as a paint warehouse for much of the early 20th century. It took four years to restore the church to it's former self.
1774 church
May 1900
1966, under restoration
1972
today
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