First Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia)
| First Presbyterian Church in the City of Philadelphia | |
|---|---|
| Location | 201 South 21st Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 |
| Country | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| Denomination | Presbyterian (PCUSA) |
| Membership | 291 |
| Weekly attendance | 50 |
| Website | fpcphila |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Second Presbyterian Church Calvary Presbyterian Church |
| Status | Open |
| Founded | 1692 |
| Founder(s) | Francis Makemie Jedediah Andrews |
| Dedicated | 1698 |
| Associated people | Benjamin Franklin Dr. Benjamin Rush James Wilson Thomas McKean Jared Ingersoll President John Adams |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Henry Augustus Sims(1872 Church) Theophilus P. Chandler Jr. (1884 Parish House) Frank Furness (1901 Tower) Harold E. Wagoner (1954 Chancel Renovations) Atkin Olshin Schade Architects (2010 FAMP Renovations) |
| Architectural type | French and English Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 1869 |
| Completed | 1872, 1884, 1901, 1954, 2010 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Exterior: Richmond granite and Trenton stone. Interior: Sandstone and black walnut (pews). |
| Administration | |
| Synod | Synod of the Trinity |
| Presbytery | Philadelphia |
| Clergy | |
| Minister(s) | The Rev. Laura Colee The Rev. Matthew Arlyck |
| Senior pastor(s) | The Rev. Dr. Baron A. Mullis |
| Deacon(s) | Gary Christensen, Moderator Elaine Hanby, Vice Moderator |
| Laity | |
| Organist/Director of music | Bálint Karosi, DMA |
| Session clerk | Cynthia Decrucq, Clerk/Secretary |
| Music group(s) | The Chancel Choir The Parish Choir |
| Parish administrator | Suzanne Riemann |
The First Presbyterian Church is a Presbyterian Church USA congregation in the Center City neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, located on 21st and Walnut Streets, built in an array of architectural styles of leading Philadelphia architects. It is part of the Presbytery of Philadelphia within the Synod of the Trinity. The First Presbyterian Church is located within the Rittenhouse Fitler Historic District.
Today the congregation stands at about 280 members. As an urban parish, the church has long held a reputation for being open and welcoming, a trait it exhibited during the HIV/AIDS pandemic of the 1980s, when members founded MANNA and allowed openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) leadership. First Church is a member of Covenant Network of Presbyterians.