First Moravian Church, Philadelphia, PA

Metadata

Title

First Moravian Church, Philadelphia, PA

Digital Identifier

First Moravian Church, Philadelphia, PA

Description

In 1742, the Moravian Church began holding services in Philadelphia under the leadership of Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf. On New Year’s Day in 1743, 34 members organized as a Moravian congregation in a new church building in Old City, at the corner of Race and Bread Streets. In 1820, the original church building was enlarged and remodeled. In 1856, a second church building was dedicated by the congregation, on Franklin and Wood Streets. A third and final church building was dedicated in 1893 on Fairmount Avenue, between 16th and 17th Streets, where it remained until the congregation’s official closing in 1965. Today, Redeemer Moravian Church continues the Moravian tradition in Southwest Philadelphia. Select archival records from this massive collection (54 boxes) of First Moravian Church were scanned as part of this project and include diaries, minutes, membership lists, church registers, and drawings.

Selected Items from the Collection

This register dates from 1743 to 1822 and includes an extensive alphabetical index in the front of the book. Births and baptisms are then listed from page 1 to page 172, deaths and burials are listed from page 201 to page 302, and marriages are…

This register begins with an alphabetical index. Births and baptisms are listed from page 1 to page 93, marriages are listed on page 131 to 171, and deaths and burials are listed from page 213 to page 262.

This register begins with an alphabetical index. Communicants are listed from pages 52 to 117, and again on page 324. Births and baptisms are listed on pages 121 to 153; receptions of new members are listed on pages 181 to 193 (previous congregations…

Four hand-colored lithographs created by Herline & Hensel of Philadelphia in 1857. The first lithograph features a view of the front and side of the original 1742 Moravian Church, which was located at the southeast corner of Bread Street (then…

Burial plan of the God's Acre (cemetery) at Philadelphia First Moravian Church, bounded by Franklin and Vine Streets, from 1757 to 1805.

Column headings translate as: Mägdlein and Mädgen (girls); Vereh[e]l[ichte] Schw[este]rn (married sisters, i.e.…

A journal of happenings in the "English congregation" from its establishment on January 1, 1743, running up to June 15, 1745. Topics covered include births and baptisms, sermons preached and hymns sung, "love feasts," meetings and conferences,…

"The Continuation of ye Philadelphia Journal," documenting happenings in the First Moravian Church of Philadelphia from June 16, 1745 to December 31, 1746. Topics covered include: sermons preached; members' travel and correspondence; burials; love…

Although the cover suggests this diary covers a date span of 1747 to 1751, entries actually run from January 1, 1747 to December 31, 1748. Topics covered include: sermons preached; visits to church members, especially those who were ailing; baptisms…

Diary of happenings in the First Moravian Church of Philadelphia from September 6, 1749 to December 31, 1751. Topics covered include: church meetings, including "Negro Meetings," "German Meetings," and "English Meetings;" members traveling to and…

Includes a summary of events, compiled by pastor Edmund de Schweinitz for the years 1842 to 1854, in the time after pastor David Bigler's calling to First Moravian Church, New York, NY. According to the account provided here by Schweinitz, no…

This committee included the elders of the English-speaking Moravians in Philadelphia. Minutes run from September 27, 1743 to July 3, 1747, and cover a variety of topics. Disputes between the German and English members of the Philadelphia congregation…

"Record of those who were received in the Congregation / according to the resolver of the Provincial Conference, 1802. / Since Br & Sr [Brother and Sister] J. Zaeslein's Arrival, 1803." Entries are listed by date and include the individual's name,…

A directory of members' names, listed street by street. Spouses and children are also noted, as well as descriptions such as "yellow frame house." Updates and annotations are penciled in throughout the manuscript.

One page, front and back, listing the names and addresses of members of the Sunday School of the First Moravian Church of Philadelphia in 1856.

Membership catalog of the First Moravian Church of Philadelphia, with entries dating from 1742 to 1783; likely handwritten by Jacob Friis or Johann Daniel Sydrich, who were both pastors of the Philadelphia congregation.

Most of the column headings…

Record of Philadelphia Moravians, their children and friends who died during the years 1744 to 1768. Many of the column headings in the catalog are in German, for which translations are provided: "No." (number), "Nahmen der Verschiedenen" (names of…

Titled in English, "A Catalogue of the Congregation members, Communicants, & not-communicants, & Society People, belonging to the little Flock of United Brethren in Phiadelphia." Names are listed for each category, along with short testimonies about…

Titled in English, "A List of the Children under the Care of the Brethren in Philadelphia." The date of August 13, 1760 is noted in A. G. Spangenberg's handwriting at the top of page 1. The list was handwritten by Jacob Rogers, then pastor of the…

Titled in German, "Verzeichniß derer zum Brüder-Gemeinlein in Philadelphia Befindenden, bey Bruder David Nitschmanns Visitation vom 24 30. Januar. 1766," which translates to "List of those in the Brethren congregation in Philadelphia, at Brother…

Titled in English, "Catalogue of Members belonging to the Congregation in Philadelphia : Nov. 13, 1836." Members are listed in groups, with communicants listed first, followed by society members, and both groups further subdivided by sex and marital…

Titled on the front-inside cover, "Names & Residence of the Congregation of the United Brethrens Church in Philadelphia, Dec. 14, '36." Names are not listed in alphabetical order, but appear to be listed in geographical groupings. Persons living…

Titled in English on front cover, "Church Book." Members are listed in groups, with communicants listed first, followed by society members, and both groups further subdivided by sex and marital status. Next children are listed, also divided by sex.…

Pen on paper drawing of the layout of the Moravian stores on Vine Street, from around 1808.
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