According to the Historical Directory of Presbyterian Churches and Presbyteries of Greater Philadelphia: Related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and Its Antecedents, 1690-1990, by Kenneth A. Hammonds, the First Presbyterian Church of Kensington, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was established in 1814. In 1838, it changed denominations to the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. (New School) and returned to the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. in 1870 when the Old School/New School schism ended. It moved to its present location on Girard Avenue in 1859. (This congregation should not be confused with Kensington Presbyterian Church, originally called First Secessionist Presbyterian Church of Kensington, as it was founded by members who seceded from the Associate Reformed Church. It is a separate congregation which was reported in 1853.)

The society has the following records containing family history information deposited in its holdings:

Philadelphia, Pa. First Presbyterian Church of Kensington:

• Registers, 1814-1952. 7 volumes. v.1, Membership, 1814-1948; v.2, Baptisms, 1815-1837 -- Marriages, 1816-1839; v.3, Marriages, 1839-1852; v.4, Marriages, 1853-1860; v.5, Baptisms, 1860-1867 -- Marriages, 1860-1865; v.6, Baptisms, 1868-1947; v.7, Marriages, 1868-1952. (Call number: Vault BX 9211 .P49125 K42; Vol.1 in Vault Folio)
   
• Session minutes, 1814-1987. 11 volumes. v. 1, 1814-1845, including baptisms, 1839-1845; v. 2, 1845-1859 (includes duplicate set of minutes, 1843-1845); v. 3, 1860-1899; v. 4, 1899-1923; v. 5, 1923-1945; v. 6, 1946-1956; v. 7, 1956-1957; v. 8, 1957-1965; v. 9, 1965-1970; v.10, 1971-1978; v.11, 1978-1987. (Call number: Vault BX 9211 .P49125 K41; Vols. 3-5 in Vault Folio)
   
• Trustees. [Pew rent, 1883-1893] 1 volume. (Call number: Vault Folio BX 9211 .P49125 K439)
   
• Philadelphia, Pa. First Presbyterian Church of Kensington. Index to funeral records of Rev. George Chandler, 1820-1836, and Rev. William Eva, 1860-1867. 15 p. (Call number: MS P498m (1))

• Index to Marriage Records of Rev. George Chandler, 1853-1860. 15p. (Call number: MS P498m (2))
   
• Index to Marriage Records, 1859-1951. 26 p. (Call number: MS P498m (3))
   
• Index to roll of members, 1814, 1948. (Call number: MS P498m (4))
   
• Marriage records, 1871-1873. (Call number: MS P498 (7))
   
• Roll of members, 1814-1902.90 p. (Call number: MS P498 (2))

• Stubs of dismissals, 1909-1943. (Call number: MS P498d)

It is the policy of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to restrict access to all official records on deposit at the Presbyterian Historical Society that are less than 50 years old.  This restriction applies at the national, middle governing body, and congregation level.  We administer this restriction in order to protect the rights and privacy of the records’ creators/owners and the privacy rights of the individuals mentioned in the records.  If researchers want to access official records less than 50 years old, we require that they secure written permission from the records’ owners.

According to our most recent directory, Kensington First Presbyterian Church is an active congregation and may still have some of their records.  You may wish to contact them directly.

Clerk of Session
Kensington First Presbyterian Church
418 E Girard Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19125
215-739-5695
1stpresbykensington.org
email: office@1stpresbykensington.org