12 Finding aid prepared by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories using data provided by the Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. Last updated on February 03, 2015. Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church
Table of Contents Summary Information...3 Biography/History...4 Scope and Contents... 4 Administrative Information... 4 Related Materials... 6 Controlled Access Headings...6 Collection Inventory... 7 - Page 2 -
Summary Information Repository Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church Creator Rehoboth Methodist Episcopal Church (Philadelphia, Pa.) Title Rehoboth Methodist Episcopal Church records Call number 12 Date [inclusive] 1832-2007 Extent 3 linear feet General Physical Description note 7 boxes, 2 volumes, 1 folder Language English Abstract Rehoboth Methodist Episcopal Church in the Frankford Section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is known as the "mother church" of Frankford Methodism. It traces its roots to the first "Methodist Society" in the community, established in 1829. In 2001, Rehoboth merged into Central United Methodist Church, which closed in 2005. The Rehoboth Methodist Episcopal Church records, 1832-2007, include financial records, membership and cemetery records, class lists, board and trustee minutes, anniversary materials, worship bulletins, newsletters, photographs, ephemera, and various other documents. Some materials have been microfilmed and are available at other repositories. - Page 3 -
Biography/History Methodism is a protestant Christian faith based in the teachings of John Wesley (1703-1791), who preached "practical divinity," emphasis on Christian living, and putting faith and love into action. The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1784 in Baltimore, Maryland with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as its first bishops and held its first general conference in 1792. In May of 1939, the Methodist Episcopal Church; the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; and the Methodist Protestant Church united to form the Methodist Church (U.S.). In 1946 the Church of the United Brethren in Christ (New constitution) and the Evangelical Church united to form the Evangelical United Brethren Church. In 1968 the Methodist Church (U.S.) and the Evangelical United Brethren Church united, forming the United Methodist Church (U.S.). Rehoboth Methodist Episcopal Church in the Frankford Section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is known as the "mother church" of Frankford Methodism. It traces its roots to the first "Methodist Society" in the community, consisting of thirty congregants under the ministry of two traveling preachers when established in 1829. Originally part of the Bristol Circuit, then the Germantown Circuit, the congregation became the self-sustaining Methodist Episcopal Church of Frankford in 1833. The name Rehoboth was adopted several years later. The congregation was also known as the Paul Street Church, because its 1834 church building was located on Paul Street above Torresdale Avenue. In 2001 the church merged into Frankford Central United Methodist Church, which closed in 2005. Scope and Contents The collection includes financial records, membership and cemetery records, class lists, board and trustee minutes, anniversary materials, worship bulletins, newsletters, photographs, ephemera, and various other documents dating from 1832 to 2007. Some materials have been microfilmed and are available at other repositories. A folder-level inventory for the collection is available. Administrative Information Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church - Page 4 -
Finding aid prepared by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories using data provided by the Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. Sponsor This preliminary finding aid was created as part of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories. The HCI-PSAR project was made possible by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Access Restrictions Contact Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church for information about accessing this collection. Immediate Source of Acquisition Note The Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church is the repository for records of member churches when they close. Processing Information Note Summary descriptive information on this collection was compiled in 2012-2014 as part of a project conducted by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania to make better known and more accessible the largely hidden collections of small, primarily volunteer run repositories in the Philadelphia area. The Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories (HCI-PSAR) was funded by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. This is a preliminary finding aid. No physical processing, rehousing, reorganizing, or folder listing was accomplished during the HCI-PSAR project. In some cases, more detailed inventories or finding aids may be available on-site at the repository where this collection is held; please contact Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church directly for more information. Existence and Location of Copies Some church records at the Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church, particularly membership and vital records, are available in digital form through Ancestry.com or on microfilm at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and/or the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania. - Page 5 -
Related Materials Related Archival Materials Note Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church: Frankford Central United Methodist Church records. Controlled Access Headings Corporate Name(s) Rehoboth Methodist Episcopal Church (Philadelphia, Pa.) United Methodist Church (U.S.) Geographic Name(s) Frankford (Philadelphia, Pa.) Philadelphia (Pa.) Subject(s) City churches Methodism Methodists - Page 6 -
Collection Inventory Box Folder Annual Budgets, 1932, 1949. 1 1 Photographs, 1965-1973. 1 2 Estate of Frank Torrens, 1958-1959. 1 3 Estate of Emma L. Gouak, 1989-1993. 1 4 Church Calendars, 1925-1931. 1 5 Worship Bulletins, 1937-1938. 1 6 Photo and greeting, Rev. Geo. A. Laughead, c. 1935. 1 7 "Lyceum," Paul St. M. E. Church, 1882. 1 8 "Register" newsletter, 1935-1937. 1 9 - Page 7 -
Membership directories, 1929-1949. 2 1 Membership directories, 1951-1991. 2 2 Quarterly Conference Records, 1903-1931. 2 3 Class Lists, 1866-1871. 3 1 Class Lists, 1872-1875. 3 2 Subscriptions, 1875-1898. 3 3 Trustee Minutes, 1898-1927. 4 1 Record of Receipts and Expenditures, 1915-1920; Record of Receipts, 1930-1955. 4 2 Record of Probationers, 1879-1916; Record of classes, 1880; Record of delegates to the North District Epworth League Conference, 1906. 5 1 Official Board Minutes, 1894-1913. 6 1 - Page 8 -
Official Board Minutes, 1913-1930. 6 2 Board of Leaders and Stewards: Minutes, 1866-1873, and Cash Account Record, 1860-1868. 6 3 Board of Leaders and Stewards Minutes, 1874-1905. 6 4 Board of Stewards Minutes, 1905-1935. 6 5 Quarterly Conference Records, 1857-1889. 7 1 Bequests, 1964-1965. 7 2 Official Board Minutes, 1930-1938. 7 3 Official Board Minutes, 1938-1956. 7 4 One Hundredth Anniversary, 1929. 7 5 140th Anniversary, 1969. 7 6 - Page 9 -
Box Fold Membership, 1881-2003. 1 Cemetery records, 1832-1904. 2 Documents associated with cemetery records, circa 1995-2007. 3 Box Fold History file. 1 History File Scope and Contents note 1829-1904 history, History from Sunday School Minutes 1837, By-Laws, Request for Information, 145th Anniversary Dinner Booklet 1974, "How to Interest Young Men of the Church", 100th Anniversary Report 1939, 75th Anniversary Program 1904, 1882 directory (Paul Street), 1941 directory, 1946 directory, 2001 clipping on Sale of Church - Page 10 -