Arch Street Presbyterian Church

Arch Street Presbyterian Church
Arch Street Presbyterian Church, February 2010
Location 1726-1732 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates 39°57′16″N 75°10′11″W / 39.95444°N 75.16972°WCoordinates: 39°57′16″N 75°10′11″W / 39.95444°N 75.16972°W
Area less than one acre
Built 1855
Architect Hoxie & Button
Architectural style Classical Revival
Governing body Private
NRHP Reference # 71000717[1]
Added to NRHP May 27, 1971

Arch Street Presbyterian Church is a historic Presbyterian Church at 1724 Arch Street in the Logan Square neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was designed by the noted architectural firm of Hoxie & Button, and built in 1855. It is a one-story, Classical Revival style building with Greek and Roman elements. It features a portico supported by four Corinthian order columns and a coffered dome.[2]

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.[1]

History

19th and 20th centuries

Built in 1855, Arch Street Presbyterian Church (ASPC), was the "establishment" downtown Presbyterian church through the 19th and much of the 20th century. The architecture is neo-classic Greek revival style, a contrast to the modern Comcast Center skyscraper next door. The interior features ornate columns, a domed ceiling, and a massive organ.

In the 1920s and 1930s, the church was a conservative bastion in the theological debates that rocked the Presbyterian Church and other mainline Protestant denominations. ASPC's head pastor during this period, Rev. Clarence Macartney, engaged in a public feud with one of the leading modernist preachers, Rev. Harry Emerson Fosdick of New York City.[3]

During the latter 20th century, the congregation dwindled as many members moved out of Center City Philadelphia.

21st century

By the early 2000s, the church had only a few dozen active members.[4] In 2008, the Presbytery of Philadelphia of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) decided to attempt to revitalize the church. Rev. William Golderer, who is also the convening pastor of Broad Street Ministry, was recruited to lead the effort. The pastoral staff now includes Rev. Golderer; Rev. Becky White Newgren, Minister for Community Life; Rev. Mike Pulsifer, Minister for Executive Leadership; and Dr. J. Donald Dumpson, Minister of Music. [5] Dr. Dumpson comes from the African-American Baptist tradition, and he leads a music program that includes classical, traditional, folk, and gospel influences.

The church now has growing attendance and membership of about 100, with a diverse racial and socioeconomic makeup. The church's current theology could be characterized as progressive and inclusive theology, with worship in the Reformed Protestant tradition. Programming includes a Sunday School for children during worship, outreach activities, a Deacons ministry, a "Good Book Club" (Wednesday lunchtime Bible Study), and men's and women's groups.

Gallery

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13.
  2. ↑ "National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania" (Searchable database). CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System. Note: This includes Mary C. Means (July 1970). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Arch Street Presbyterian Church" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-06-16.
  3. ↑ Macartney, Clarence. "Shall Unbelief Win?". Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  4. ↑ "Presbyterian Mission Agency Research Services". Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  5. ↑ "Arch Street Presbyterian Staff". Retrieved 7 May 2014.
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