McDowell Memorial Presbyterian Church (1893)
2061 Cecil B. Moore Ave.
Philadelphia,
PA US
Sanctuary; front
Organ ID: 72330
Unknown if the 1876 chapel had an organ. The abandonedonline.net website states, "Spring Garden Presbyterian commissioned local architect Henry Augustus Sims to design a brownstone chapel on the site of the Sunday School in 1870. Originally known as the Columbia Avenue Presbyterian Church, the ashlar brownstone structure featured stained glass windows by Scottish-born John and George H. Gibson. The chapel was enlarged in 1876.
Columbia Avenue Presbyterian absorbed the dwindling congregation of the Fairmount Presbyterian Church in 1882. The merger was followed up by the merging of the Spring Garden congregation with the Columbia Avenue church in 1891, and the newly merged entity was renamed the McDowell Memorial Presbyterian Church."
The Spring Garden Presbyterian Church had J.H. Willcox & Co. Opus 19, 1871. According to the Boston Organ Club Newsletter, this organ was transplanted to McDowell Memorial Presbyterian and the facade was altered.
This entry represents the transplanting and reconfiguring of an existing organ. Identified from a related OHS Database entry and the J.H. Willcox & Co. opus list as published in the Boston Organ Club newsletter. The organ was undoubtedly later electrified and altered.
Church exterior: Photograph from an archival source: From William P. White and William H. Scott, 'The Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, 1895' via oldhousedreams.com website. , submitted by Jim Stettner. Taken approx. ca. 1893
Church exterior: Photograph from an archival source: Cecil B. / Bright MLS / oldhousedreams.com, submitted by Jim Stettner. Taken approx. ca. 2021
Organ facade in front: Photograph from an archival source: abandonedonline.net, submitted by Jim Stettner. Taken approx. ca. 2021
Chancel with organ facade intact: abandonedonline.net, submitted by Jim Stettner. Taken approx. ca. 2021
Sanctuary interior damaged by vandals. Damaged organ facade.: Photograph from an archival source: Cecil B. / Bright MLS / oldhousedreams.com, submitted by Jim Stettner. Taken approx. ca. 2021
Church interior damaged by vandals. Organ facade damaged.: Photograph from an archival source: Cecil B. / Bright MLS / oldhousedreams.com, submitted by Jim Stettner. Taken approx. ca. 2021
