3500 Baring Street

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 n 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 village of Mantua had become absorbed by the city, and no longer was known as such. It was hence deemed wise by the congregation, at its last meeting in its old building, on September 29th, 1875, to change the name to that of the ‘Northminster Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia.’

“The earlier Pastors of the church were Rev. W. S. Drysdale, from 1846 to 1848; Rev. Charles S. Renshaw, from May, 1849, to April, 1853; and Rev. Thomas S. Johnston, from 1853 to 1864. Rev. H. Augustus Smith, D. D. [3705 Hamilton], became Pastor in July, 1864, and continued as such until 1882. It was during his pastorate that the new church was built, being dedicated on Sabbath, November 14th, 1875. It is of green stone, two stories in height, the lower story being used for lecture-room and Sabbath-school. The architectural design is Gothic; its seating capacity 800. Within a year electric lighting has been introduced.

“In May, 1883, the present Pastor, Rev. Robert H. Fulton, D. D. [3420 Hamilton], then of Baltimore, Md., was unanimously called to the pastorate, and in the following June entered upon his duties.

“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.)

Carillon bells were installed in the tower in 1928.

The Northminster Presbyterian moved to Drexel Hill, Pa. in 1946. 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.

< 3418 Baring 3504 Baring >

Back to Interactive Map