A History Of The Rise Of Methodism In America - Media Sabda Org

of the place in May, 1773. One of the first discourses delivered by this order, in the town, was under
an apple tree. It is not probable that the Methodists had a society here until after the war. Mrs. Steel
and her son-in-law, Dr. Lusby, were some of the early friends and Methodists of this town; also, the
Harmer and Keyser families.
Some time between 1790 and 1800, they had a place of worship; the house still stands, it is said,
and has long been used as a schoolhouse. The Methodists of this town erected a larger building of
stone about the beginning of the present century; this was subsequently enlarged, and, in 1858, torn
down, and a new building put up to suit the times: it is a plain, neat, convenient church. The
Methodists of Germantown have had their place of worship on Haines street.
In 1804, the original Kensington M. E. Church was founded, and long known as the "Old Brick."
It was a small edifice, but subsequently enlarged; and, in 1855, it was pulled down, and the largest
Church owned by the Methodists in this city stands on the old site.
About the year 1811, the heads of the Academy society engaged in building a church in Tenth
street, between Market and Chestnut streets, which they called St. Thomas'. This was much the best
church edifice that the Methodists then had in the nation, and it was called by Mr. Asbury, who first
preached in it in 1812, by way of eminence, "The City Road," after Mr. Wesley's London chapel.
A number of the Academy members entertaining the notion that this fine church, as they called
it, was built to accommodate a few of the most wealthy Methodist families, refused to worship in
it; and, as we have been informed, started a prayer meeting at the same hour that the preaching was
at St. Thomas', in the region of Thirteenth and Vine, which was the germ of Nazareth Church. As
a congregation could not be raised for St. Thomas' to sustain it with free seats, and as the time for
pews (which might have saved it) in a Methodist church in this city was not yet, the church was sold,
and the Episcopalians bought it, and called it St. Stephen's.
St. John's sprang from St. George's, and was built in St. John's street, near Cohocksink Creek,
about 1816. In 1850, it was sold, and New St. John's M. E. Church was erected in Third street, near
Beaver street.
In 1818, St. James', in Olney, was built. It is in one of the rural districts of the consolidated city,
about five miles from the State house, in Chestnut street. The society at St. James' are about to put
up a new church in the place of the old one.
About 1819, the Methodist Episcopal Meeting house in Holmesburg was built. The Salem
Church, like most others, began in a prayer meeting in the southwest part of the city. Afterwards,
they had a small place of worship near Old Salem, on Thirteenth street. The brick building now
called Old Salem was erected about 1819, and New Salem in 1841. It was dedicated by the Rev.
John N. Maffit.
Nazareth commenced in a prayer meeting, establish about 1814, near Thirteenth and Vine streets.
Afterwards a wooden building in Perry street, south of Vine was the place of worship for a number
of years. In 1827, a brick building, called Nazareth, was erected on Thirteenth street; this house was