Didn’t Saint George’s Church split around 1801? That split birthed what we know today as Kensington Methodist Episcopal Church. This church carries the affectionate nickname Old Brick Church. It stands as the oldest church in Kensington and Fishtown.
Kensington Methodist Episcopal Church’s story begins with John Hewson. He was a Kensington Revolutionary War hero. Hewson led a group to found the church in the early 1800s. Services still occur here every Sunday.
Though the Kensington Methodist Episcopal Church has occupied this spot since 1805, its location once differed significantly. The Delaware waterfront drove Philadelphia’s economy in the early 20th century. This church sat just blocks from the river.
The surrounding area thrived as a manufacturing center. Before I-95’s construction in the 1970s, Kensington Methodist Episcopal Church enjoyed easy access to Fishtown and Kensington. Today I-95 and Delaware Avenue pinch the church’s location.
The congregation has been here since 1805. The current Kensington Methodist Episcopal Church building dates back to 1854. Church members used bricks from their first church. This act led to the Old Brick Church nickname.
The Kensington Methodist Episcopal Church has been on the local historic registry for decades. Developer Elliot Kopel is adding interior floors. He is creating 26 apartments inside. The original plan called for 38 units. Community pushback reduced the unit count. The developer got the necessary variance last year.
The congregation is now rather small. It will keep a small part of the building. There will be a chapel and meeting room on the first floor of the former Young Men’s Hall on Marlborough Street.
Methodism’s local origins trace back to that split in Saint George’s Church. About 60 members withdrew. They formed the Union Methodist Episcopal Church on Fourth Street. These members organized into classes. One class consisted of Kensington residents.
In 1805, they acquired land. A brick meeting house went up on Queen Street. It later became Richmond Street. People knew it as the Kensington Methodist Episcopal Church. But it was more popularly known as the Old Brick church.
Burials occurred in the churchyard until 1826. The congregation bought a lot at the Hanover Street Burial Grounds for 700 dollars. They moved many interments there. That cemetery closed in 1922. The bodies were moved to Forest Hills Cemetery. They were put in a mass grave with a single marker. Burial records were found in 2010. They were in a sealed safe at the church.
In 1853, a new Kensington Methodist Episcopal Church structure was built on the same site. It was dedicated in May 1854. Though many burials moved to Hanover, intact burials have been reported in this church’s basement.
The Historic American Buildings Survey says the Kensington Methodist Episcopal Church completed its present building in 1854. The building maintains high integrity. Much of its original fabric remains intact. This includes obsolete building systems and original furniture.
So here stands the Kensington Methodist Episcopal Church. It is a testament to faith and community. It has evolved through time. It is a captivating piece of Philadelphia’s history.