First Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian church building in Rittenhouse District, Philadelphia, US
First Presbyterian Church is a stone building in the Rittenhouse District featuring French and English Gothic details at the corner of 21st and Walnut Streets. It displays intricate stained glass windows and a prominent tower that rises above the neighborhood.
The church was founded in 1692 and initially occupied a warehouse before relocating to this address. The current building was completed in 1872 following a design by architect Henry Augustus Sims.
The congregation shapes the appearance and use of this place through active programs that bring different age groups together. You can see how the space functions as more than just a worship venue for the people who gather here.
The church is easy to locate and access from the street, with clear entrances visible from the main intersection. Its location in the Rittenhouse District makes it convenient to reach on foot and combine with nearby attractions.
Three signers of the Declaration of Independence had ties to this congregation and its sister church: Benjamin Rush, Thomas McKean, and James Wilson. Their connection links this building to pivotal moments in early American history.
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