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, founder of the School of Architecture at the
University of Pennsylvania…. Th church was… originally green serpentine…
Presumably the deterioration of the stone caused its replacement in the early
twentieth century by the continuation of the Wilson Brothers who were joined by
a member of Richards' family in the firms of Wilson, Harris, and 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
1956: The Northminster Presbyterian moved to Drexel Hill, Pa. and
the church was sold to Metropolitan Baptist Church. In 1957, the bells were
moved to a new carillon tower at the church’s new location. In 1975,
Northminster merged with St. Paul’s United Church of Christ to form the Collenbrook
United Church.
Revised 8/25/2022