Philadelphia, Market Square Presbyterian Church

According to the Historical Directory of Presbyterian Churches and Presbyteries of Greater Philadelphia, by Kenneth A. Hammonds (Philadelphia: PHS, 1993), Market Square Presbyterian Church may have been organized originally as a Dutch Reformed congregation in 1710, but is documented as a German Reformed congregation by 1732.

Records from the German Reformed Church, 1750–1856, deposited with the society include:

German Reformed Church of Germantown, Philadelphia, PA

• Consistory minutes, 1750–1829, 1 vol. (Call number: Vault BX 9211 .P49144 G41)
  • English translation, 1 folder (Call number: MS P484gm)
• Consistory minutes, 1841–1856, 1 vol. (Call number: Vault BX 9211 .P49144 G431)
   
• Consistory register, 1753–1856, 1 vol. In German. Baptisms, 1753–1856; Marriages, 1753–1856; Membership, 1820–1841. (Call number: Vault BX 9211 .P49144 G42)
  • English translation, 1 vol. (Call number: Vault BX 9211 .P49144 G4213)
• Register of burial lots and chart, 1841–1856 (Call number: Vault BX 9211 .P49144 G424)

German Reformed Church of Germantown became Market Square Presbyterian Church in 1857. Market Square Church was dissolved in 1995. Records from the church deposited with the society include:

Market Square Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, PA

• Session minutes, 1856–1959, 6 vols. (Call number: Vault BX 9211 .P49144 M31)
   
• Session minutes, 1959–1995 (Call number: 98-0716)
   
• Registers, 1856–1948, 5 vols. (Call number: Vault BX 9211 .P49144 M3031)
  • v.1. Baptisms, 1856–1884; Marriages, 1856–1882; Membership, 1856–1912.
  • v.2. Baptisms, 1883–1903; Marriages, 1883–1903; Membership, 1856–1902.
  • v.3. Baptisms, 1903–1912; Marriages, 1903–1912; Membership, 1856–1913.
  • v.4. Baptisms, 1913–1929; Marriages, 1913–1925; Membership, 1856–1930.
  • v.5. Baptisms, 1930–1948; Marriages, 1930–1948; Membership, 1856–1948.
• Register, 1949–1963 (Call number: 98 0716)
   
• Miscellaneous membership records, 1918–1920, 1 folder, (Call number: MS P51225m)

The cataloged records also include congregational and trustee records, Sunday school and missionary society records, legal documents, and financial records. There are also published bulletins, church newsletters, yearbooks, and members’ manuals.

In 1960, Market Square received by merger the Church of the Savior, begun in 1908 as the Germantown Italian Mission and organized as a congregation in 1928. Records from this church deposited with the society include:

Church of the Savior, Germantown, Philadelphia, PA

• Session minutes, 2 vols., 1929–1960 (Call number: Vault MI46 G31ss)
   
• Register, 1 vol., 1909–1957 (Call number: Vault MI46 G31sr)
  • Membership, 1929–1956; baptisms, 1909–1956; marriages, 1910–1957; Deaths, 1932–1947.
• Certificates of Dismission to Church of the Savior, 1949–1953 (Call number: MS G3182sc)
   
• Baptismal certificate stubs, 1 vol., 1950–1960 (Call number: Vault MI46 G31sb)
   
• Marriage certificate stubs, 4 vols., 1910–1951 (Call number: Vault MI46 G31smc)
   
• Marriage licenses to couples married in the Church of the Savior, 1 vol., 1910–1957 (Call number: Vault MI46 G31sml)

Additional cataloged records include treasurer’s records, legal papers, and historical notes (card catalog).