Called "The Cradle of American Methodism," St. George's is the nation's oldest Methodist church in continuous use. In 1763, the church belonged to a German Reformed Congregation that ran out of funds to complete the structure and the church's trustees were put into debtor's prison. A young speculator purchased the church for 700 pounds about five years later. This purchase incurred the wrath of the young man's father, who sold the church to the Methodists in 1769.
The original congregation was called “Georg Kirchen” in honor of the then reigning King George III of England. At first the Methodists referred to it as “our new meeting house”, but later the name was changed to St. George's after the patron Saint of England.
The site hosted the first three conferences on American Methodism in the mid 1770s and was an early publisher of books in Philadelphia. In keeping with William Penn's tradition of religious and racial toleration, black worshippers were welcomed at St. George's — in segregated services held at five in the morning.
Richard Allen and Absalom Jones became the first African Americans licensed by the Methodist Church. The black membership at St. George’s increased tenfold as a result of the evangelistic efforts of Jones and Allen. But this increase was not welcomed by many of the white members of the congregation. Instead of praising their efforts, church officials responded by attempting to further segregate the black congregants. During a Sunday service in November 1786, ushers attempted to remove all blacks, including Jones, from the main floor of the church to the balcony. Jones, Allen, and the black members of the congregation promptly left the church as a group to start their own churches.
Richard Allen founded the Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, while Jones founded the African Protestant Episcopal Church.
The membership level of St. George's increased throughout the early 19th century, and was at its largest (3,200 people) in 1835. As a result of the Civil War and the transitioning of St. George's neighborhood from residential to industrial, membership dwindled in the second half of the 19th century. By the early part of 20th century, only 25 people remained in the congregation and the church was in danger of being destroyed to make way for the Delaware River Bridge (now B.F. Bridge).
In the 1920s, a court case saved the church from being demolished and resulted in the bridge being relocated 14' to the south. Stairs to the front door were added to account for the lowering of 4th St to accommodate the bridge approach.
On October 25, 2009 “The Great Gathering" took place at St. George's in which the community of Mother Bethel AME and St. George's congregations gathered for Sunday worship at St. George's for the first time since the 1786 walkout.
early 1900's, before 4th St. 1940's
lowered for bridge approach
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