Bethel Presbyterian Church

In the heart of Philadelphia, Bethel Presbyterian Church stands as a testament to the city’s rich history. Bethel Presbyterian Church wasn’t always known by this name. Its story begins in the 18th century as the Third Presbyterian Church. Philadelphia’s booming population was overflowing the churches along High Street, now Market Street. The Penn family, proprietors of Pennsylvania, granted land at 4th and Pine Streets to members of the First Presbyterian Church. This land was intended for a new burial ground and a new church: the Third Presbyterian Church. Built between 1766 and 1768, Bethel Presbyterian Church, then the Third Presbyterian Church, was designed by Robert Smith. It mirrored the elegance of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church nearby. Unlike St. Peter’s, however, the Third Presbyterian Church underwent numerous transformations. By 1837, the interior was redesigned. The roof was raised to accommodate a second-floor sanctuary. Twin staircases ascended from Pine Street to a new porch and entrance. The church’s colonial windows were replaced with double-story windows. The exterior was stuccoed. A cast-iron fence, perched on marble bases, was erected along Pine Street. Architect John Fraser further refined the church’s appearance in 1857. He added a stone belt course to emphasize the sanctuary level. He designed the striking Corinthian portico, the pilasters on the side walls, and a new layout for the sanctuary. The interior continued to evolve with redesigns in 1867 and 1952. Through mergers, the Third Church combined with the Holland-Scots Church in 1953, and later with the Eastburn Mariners’ Bethel Church in 1958. This union gave Bethel Presbyterian Church its current name. It’s remarkable to consider that Bethel Presbyterian Church rests on its original colonial foundation. Even today, traces of Robert Smith’s original design remain. Look closely, and you can still see the original wood-shingled roof, the roof trusses, and the roundel window within the pediment. Bethel Presbyterian Church stands not just as a place of worship, but as a living chronicle of Philadelphia’s architectural and religious history.