Founded in 1698 the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia has a rich history. It is one of the oldest churches in the country. The church began in a small abandoned building. This was known as the Barbadoes Storehouse.
Let’s delve into the past of First Baptist Church. Imagine Philadelphia in its early days. William Penn had just established the city. Just six years later the First Baptist Church emerged.
Initially First Baptist Church shared the Barbadoes Storehouse with Presbyterians. Soon, they acquired their own meeting place. This was at Anthony Morris’ Brewhouse. It stood at the intersection of Water and Dock Streets.
By 1707 First Baptist Church took over the Keithian Quaker Meeting House. It was next to Christ Church Episcopal. The Philadelphia Baptist Association was formed there that year. The congregation flourished. In 1731 they replaced the meeting house. It became a large brick building called LaGrange Place. In 1808 they replaced it with a larger structure.
In 1746 First Baptist Church separated from Pennepek Church. Rev Jenkin Jones ministered solely to First Baptist until his death in 1760. His tombstone is in the present church’s lower stairwell. Rev Morgan Edwards arrived from England in 1761. He became pastor. He helped establish Rhode Island College now Brown University.
During the War of Independence church life suffered. Membership declined but Deacon Samuel Miles became Mayor of Philadelphia in 1790. He is memorialized with a tablet in the stairwell. In 1804 the church formed its first choir. It was accompanied by violin clarionette violincello and bassoon. There was no organ until 1829. Men and boys pumped it.
First Baptist Church birthed several daughter churches. These included Roxborough Baptist Church in 1789 and First African Baptist Church in 1809. In 1806 Dr William Staughton became pastor. His preaching drew crowds. The LaGrange Church needed enlarging. The congregation worshipped in the State House now Independence Hall. Staughton became President of Columbian College now George Washington University.
In 1814 the General Missionary Convention was formed. In 1815 a Sunday School started. From 1816 to 1825 disputes arose. These were over lamps candles and theological disagreements. Dr William Brantly became Pastor in 1825. By 1835 there were 635 members. In 1837 he helped form the American and Foreign Bible Society.
In 1839 the Dorcas Society formed. It assisted young ministry students and promoted social life. Dr George Barton Ide succeeded Dr Brantly in 1838. He was a great preacher. In 1843 110 people were baptized. He helped found Bucknell University. Robert Lowry baptized by Dr Ide composed hymns. These included “Shall we gather at the river?”
In 1862 Joseph H Gilmore wrote the hymn “He Leadeth Me”. He wrote it after preaching at First Baptist Church. The 1840s saw debates over slavery. The denomination split.
By 1852 the church outgrew its building. In 1853 Dr Ide laid the cornerstone for a new building. It was at Arch and Broad Streets. By 1860 most graves from LaGrange cemetery moved to Mount Moriah Cemetery. Gravestones of early pastors were placed inside the new building. These later moved to the church at 17th and Sansom.
Dr George Dana Boardman became pastor in 1864. He was a strong abolitionist. He supported the Union. He lectured at the University of Pennsylvania. He served as President of the American Baptist Missionary Union.
Under Dr Boardman’s leadership First Baptist helped found institutions. These included The Baptist Home and The Baptist Orphanage. Dr Kerr Boyce Tupper succeeded him in 1896. Membership grew to 1013. A new structure was built at 17th and Sansom. The formal dedication took place in 1900.
Dr William Williams Keen was a famous member. He was known as “the father of American surgery”. He wrote about the church’s history. In 2014 First Baptist Church was sold. This was due to financial issues. Liberti Church bought it. First Baptist still worships there under a lease agreement.
In 2016 a construction project at 218 Arch Street uncovered human remains. It was a burial ground from 1707. The remains were reburied in Mount Moriah Cemetery in July 2024. The story of First Baptist Church continues. It is a testament to faith resilience and community.