History

  • 1804: A group of English independents withdraw from Second Presbyterian Church to form the Independent Tabernacle Church
  • 1814: Sixth Presbyterian splits from Third Presbyterian (now Old Pine)
  • 1820: The Independent Tabernacle Church rejoins the Philadelphia Presbytery as Seventh Presbyterian
  • 1873: Seventh Presbyterian merges with Sixth Presbyterian as “Tabernacle Presbyterian Church” under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Henry McCook
  • 1883: Tabernacle Presbyterian relocates to the rapidly growing suburb of West Philadelphia
  • 1884: The cornerstone is laid for the new $206,000 900 seat sanctuary at 37th and Chestnut designed by Theophilus Parsons Chandler
  • 1908-1913: Rev. William Oxtoby forms a club for University students and then an affiliation agreement with the Christian Association of the University of Pennsylvania
  • 1913-1929: Rev. Dr. John Blair and his controversial support for the Social Gospel
  • 1930-1950: Internationally renowned evangelical preacher Dr. G. Campbell Morgan and then his son, Dr. Howard Moody Morgan serve as pastors
  • 1953: Tabernacle reaffirms its identity as a University church through the Westminster Foundation
  • 1957: Students begin community outreach to the local neighborhood with after-school programs
  • 1958: UCC Campus minister William Jacobs brings his Penn students to Tabernacle as a federated congregation
  • 1961-1968: Rev. Lacy Harwell fights to save the homes of the Black families in the surrounding neighborhood, some of whom attend the church or are in after-school programs, from redevelopment but all of the residential area around the church is destroyed. The UCC and Presbyterian congregations elect a single council and pass a unified budget
  • 1969-1977: The Rev. Thomas Dietrich pastors with associates Benjamin Wu, Roderick P. Frohman, and Donna Schaper. Tabernacle begins a tradition of starting non-profit organizations, including Action Alliance of Senior Citizens, Women in Transition, The Gray Panthers, and Women’s Alliance for Job Equity, and of providing worship space to other congregations including Korean, Formosan, and Coptic congregations. Many members protest the Vietnam War.
  • 1981-1990: With Rev. Jim McDonald, Tabernacle United Church is officially formed as a single congregation in both the Presbyterian Church (USA) and United Church of Christ. The congregation renovates and moves into the original chapel, and votes to become part of the Sanctuary Movement, hosting an El Salvadoran family and then after the war helping a community in El Salvador. The original sanctuary is converted to a theater.
  • 1991: Tabernacle votes to become an Open and Affirming and More Light congregation, the first UCC and first PCUSA church in Pennsylvania to officially welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons into full membership and leadership in the congregation.
  • 1992-1995: Rev. Susan Minasian is the first UCC member and first woman called as pastor, bringing a focus on the arts. Members of Tabernacle start Career Wardrobe and the Interfaith Working Group, a 501(c)(3) that educated the public and media on the existence and role of progressive and pro-LGBT religious organizations
  • 1997-2010: Rev. Patricia Pearce brings innovations in preaching and worship, spirituality, Christology, theology and community. Westminster House is sold to Penn as a new home for the Christian Association, and Penn leases the original sanctuary as the Iron Gate Theater. Members start Artwell and in a response to 9/11, Interfaith Philadelphia. The Interfaith Working Group becomes Transfaith. The Presbyterian Church (USA) rescinds its anti-gay ordination policy
  • 2012: The congregation unanimously calls the Rev. Katie Aikins
  • 2016: Pax Ressler joins Tabernacle as our Ministry of Music, bringing a mix of new composition, contemporary, Gospel and traditional hymns and instrumentation with a commitment to sing into our values
  • 2019: We complete capital improvements to the building including the addition of a third restroom on the first floor with a washer, dryer, and shower; air-conditioning in the Community Room, and improvements to the elevator. We also start serving a monthly Community Meal, providing clothing, hygiene products, snacks, drinks, substantial food and a place where folks can relax for a few hours in a non-institutional environment without being hassled
  • 2020: With the onslaught of COVID, Tabernacle invests in Zoom-friendly technology, allowing us to run online services as well as prayer meetings, Bible studies and educational series to keep the congregation connected. We also continue our role as a Sanctuary church, hosting a Jamaican family challenging their deportation order
  • 2022: We renew our participation in Philadelphia’s reorganized Pride events
  • 2023: We host a Chinese family waiting for a more permanent place to live