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St. Mark's German Evangelical Reformed Church (Philadelphia, PA)

 Collection
Identifier: Church RG 787

Scope and Contents

St. Mark's German Evangelical Reformed Church collections consists of 1 Box and 1 Envelope containing; photographs, Church Records Baptisms (1876-1926, 1969-2007), Marriages 1926-1944, Confirmations 1933-2002, Annual reports, Consistory minutes, Constitution and by-laws etc. Cemetery Records Deaths 1970-2003 Directories 1976-1998 Congregational Meetings 1989-2009 Congregational Statistics and Reports 1936-1938 Financial Records, Treasurer's Reports 1957-2010 (inc.) Dissolution and Sale of Property, Rebuilding 2008 Church History 1901-1959, 1976-2000 Pastors Legal Records Newsletters Programs Committees Consistory Minutes 1956-2003 Auxiliary Organizations Church Blueprints and Topographical Maps

Dates

  • Creation: 1876 - 2010

Biographical / Historical

In February 1874 seven people met to organize a Sunday School which opened the next month with an attendance of 60 people at Zion Reformed Church at the corner of 4th and York streets. Mr. George Sheer, born in Hessen Germany, and a Senior at Ursinus College was invited to conduct the school. The actual congregation was organized in February 1876 and named Evangelisch Reformiete St. Markus Gemeinde and was affiliated with the German Reformed Church in the United States. Rev. Dr. Sheer was ordained in 1877 and served as pastor of St. mark's until 1925. The church moved several times as it outgrew facilities. During it's 25th anniversary in 1901 , it was reported that St. Mark's had the largest Sunday School of all the Reformed Churches in Philadelphia area. In 1938 a proposal was made to remove the word Geman from the name of the church and to change its purpose from serving German speaking people to serving all people in the community. The transition to UCC was postponed when in 1957 the congregation needed to sell the church for the expansion of St. Christopher's Children's Hospital. In 1980 the first woman was elected to the consistory. The congregation was given observant status by the Evangelical Church in 2001. On October 11, 2010 papers were signed to transfer the St. Mark's property at 525 Welsh Road to Seven Mile Road affiliated with CCCC (Conservative Congregational Christian Conference) based in Minnesota.

Extent

1 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Title
St. Mark's German Evangelical Reformed Church (Philadelphia, PA)
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the E&R Library & Archives Repository

Contact:
555 W. James Street
Lancaster PA 17603 United States
717-290-8734