Pennepack Baptist Church, also known as the Pennepek Baptist Church and the Lower Dublin Baptist Church, is an historic, American
Baptist
Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...
church that is located in
Bustleton, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Bustleton section of Northeast Philadelphia is located in the Far Northeast, north of Rhawnhurst and Fox Chase and south of Somerton; sitting between Roosevelt Boulevard to the east, the city boundary to the west, Red Lion Road to the nor ...
, USA.
It is one of the oldest Baptist congregations in North America, and is situated in the 23rd Ward of Philadelphia, near
Pennypack Creek
Pennypack Creek is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed April 1, 2011 creek in southeastern Pennsylvania in the United States. It runs southeast through lower Bucks County ...
(also known as the Pennepek).
History and architectural features
The congregation of this church was founded in 1688 by Elias Keach, the son of
Benjamin Keach
Benjamin Keach (29 February 1640 – 18 July 1704) was a Particular Baptist preacher and author in London whose name was given to Keach's Catechism.
Biography
Originally from Buckinghamshire, Keach worked as a tailor during his early years. ...
, as the first Baptist church in
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
, and originally was based on
Calvinist
Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Ca ...
(Reformed) theology.
Ebenezer Kinnersley
Ebenezer Kinnersley (30 November 1711 – 4 July 1778]) was an English scientist, inventor and lecturer, specializing in the investigation of electricity.
Life and Scientific Studies
Ebenezer Kinnersley was a son of Rev. William Kinnersley, a ...
, a notable scientist, served as minister for a period during the 1700s. The current church building was constructed in 1805 on the site of two earlier church buildings dating back to 1707.
[ ]
The church congregation still meets weekly.
See also
*
Baptists in the United States
Baptists in the United States make up a large number of all Baptists worldwide. Approximately 11.3% of Americans identify as Baptist, making Baptists the third-largest religious group in the United States, after Roman Catholics and non-denominati ...
Gallery
File:Maene grave.JPG, Old Pennepack Baptist Church Cemetery
References
External links
*
Pennepack Baptist Church … 325 Years and Counting Hidden City Philadelphia, 2013
Baptist churches in Pennsylvania
Churches in Philadelphia
1688 establishments in Pennsylvania
Churches completed in 1805
Northeast Philadelphia
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