3600 Baring Street

Sts. Andrew and Monica Church

The History of the Building

“Built 1880, 1897. Originally St. Andrew’s Protestant Episcopal Church; brownstone addition to Gothic-style church; corner gabled entrance; arcade of pointed arch window along Baring Street; gabled front with coping; two-story nave along. North 36th Street with rectangular tower end. Octagonal altar with brownstone trefoil balustrade; along Pearl Street and original circa 1870 brownstone one-story structure. Architect: Wilson Brothers.”

(Inventory of Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the national register of Historic Places, 1985)

The History of St. Andrew’s

“ST. ANDREW'S P. E. CHURCH. This church was first organized in the year 1819 under the name of St. Mark's, Mantua, and was located at the corner of Thirty-sixth and Sycamore streets. After a struggling existence it was sold by the sheriff in 1830, and a few years later burned by an incendiary. In December, 1850, under the leadership of Rev. G. W. Natt, a meeting of the church people of the neighborhood was held and a parish was organized. In 1851 the site of old St. Mark's was purchased and the ruins repaired and added to and made available for purposes of worship. The Rev. G. W. Natt was made rector. The church, now called St. Andrew's, Mantua, was opened for divine services in June, 1852, and in June, 1854, was consecrated by Rt. Rev. Alonzo Potter, Bishop of the Diocese. Because of impaired health Mr. Natt resigned the rectorship in December, 1859, greatly regretted by the congregation. He was succeeded by the Rev. W. H. W. Stewart in 1860 and he, in 1863, was succeeded by Rev. Samuel E. Smith. For a long time it had been evident that the location was unfavorable for the best growth of the parish, and in 1865 the lot on the corner of Thirty-sixth and Baring streets was purchased, and the erection of a new church immediately begun. The corner-stone of this edifice was laid in October, 1865, and the first service was held in July, 1866. This church was consecrated by Rt. Rev. William Bacon Stevens in June, 1872. In 1873 Mr. Smith resigned and was succeeded in December of the same year by Rev. R. Bethell Claxton, D. D. [1880: 3410 Baring St.]Under his leadership, in 1875, a parish house was erected, and all available room in the church being occupied, a new and larger church was planned, of which the corner stone was laid in April, 1884, and the building first occupied for public worship on Easter Day, April 5, of the following year. As a result of his faithful labors in laying the foundations for these improvements Dr. Claxton died, deeply lamented by the congregation, in May, 1882. His : memory still lingers as a sweet savor among the people to whom he ministered. He was succeeded in October, 1882, by the Rev. Charles W. Duane [1887: 34th and Race, s.e. corner]. In October, 1886, a large organ was installed and the Sunday following a vested choir was introduced. Mr. Duane resigned in 1890. and in September of the following year Rev. Wm. Herbert Assheton [Rev. W. H. Ashton, 3505 Hamilton St.] took charge as rector, and in the following year was succeeded by the Rev. Charles M. Armstrong [1887: 3606 Spring Garden St.). In August, 1895, while preparations were going on for a wedding the church took fire and was largely destroyed. It was reopened for service, having been restored and greatly beautified, in October of the following year. Any account of the history of St. Andrew's Church would be incomplete that did not take notice of the long and faithful labors of two men who have gone to their rest and reward : Washington J. Peale [1880-1900: 3607 Hamilton St.], who died in 1901, was superintendent of the Sunday School for nearly twenty five years, and gave his prayers, his time, his money to the support of the parish and W. Hasell Wilson [1870-1902: 3501 Powelton Ave.], who died in 1902, was one who had carried the financial burdens of the parish for a quarter of a century, and gave to it, out of his rare wisdom and experience, counsel and help never to be forgotten. The names of these two laymen should be indelibly recorded in the history of the parish and of the church at large.”

(Vieira, M. L. West Philadelphia Illustrated. Early History of West Philadelphia and its Environs: Its People and its Historical Points. Philadelphia, Avil Printing Co., 1903, p 42.)

The early history given by Vieira incomplete given the following:

“STEVENS, Right Rev. William Bacon, D.D. (University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1848), LL.D. (Union College. Schenectady, N.Y., 1862), Episcopalian, bishop of Pennsylvania; b. at Bath, Me., July 13,1815; educated at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., but was obliged, through the failure of his health, to give up his studies; travelled two years around the world, and on his return graduated M.D. at Dartmouth, Hanover, N.H., 1837; was ordained deacon 1843, priest 1844; was historian of the State of Georgia, 1841; professor of belles-lettres and moral philosophy in the University of Georgia, Athens, Ga., 1844-48; became rector of St. Andrew's, Philadelphia, Penn., 1848; assistant bishop of Pennsylvania, 1862; bishop, 1865. He was in 1868 appointed by the presiding bishop to take charge of the American Episcopal churches on the continent of Europe, and held the position for six years….”

(Encyclopedia of living divines and Christian workers of all denominations.... Edited by Philip Schaff and Samuel Macauley Jackson. Philadelphia: Funk & Wagnalls. 1887: 209. Emphasis added.)

Note: this is the William Bacon Stevens who consecrated St. Andrew’s new building in 1872.

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