St. George's Methodist Church
Why it's listed
Old St. George's, a three-story Flemish-bond brick church on Fourth Street in Philadelphia, was begun in 1767 when the local congregation first met in a sail loft on Dock Street. In 1769 it acquired the unfinished building from Dutch Presbyterians forced to auction it. The church is regarded as the oldest Methodist church in continuous service in the world and is one of three described as Cradles of American Methodism. Francis Asbury preached his first sermon in America here in 1771, and the first three conferences of American Methodism were held in the building between 1773 and 1775. In 1784 Richard Allen, the first Black man licensed to preach by the Methodists in America, was licensed here. The adjoining Historical Center, two joined town houses dating from 1812, is part of the complex. The church's significance rests on these religious firsts and its role in the early life of American Methodism.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is the oldest Methodist church in continuous service in the world and one of three described as Cradles of American Methodism. It notes early conferences of American Methodism, Francis Asbury's first sermon in America, and Richard Allen's licensing to preach, along with its association with notable worshippers and Revolutionary War service.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 71000064, listed May 27, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 324 New St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | May 27, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000064 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1767-1812 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Altered; original site. The church has a raised basement from street lowerings, and the Historical Center shutters have been removed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Independence National Historical Park |
| Coordinates | 39.95509, -75.14596 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 71000064.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7588176
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.