THOMAS M. THOMAS MEMORIAL
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Chester, PA
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Chester, PA
The following brief history is taken from the Home Directory
of the Colored People of Chester, 1906 compiled by Lawrence
L. Barrett & C. I. Wilson.
The first meeting looking toward establishing a Presbyterian Church among the
colored people of the city of Chester, was held August 14th, 1898, at a private
residence 1104 West Eighth street. The meetings continued until November 27th,
of the same year. A room having been secured in the City Hall on Market street,
the regular church services were conducted there. Accordingly, on May 18th,
1898, the church was duly organized under the title of the Fifth Presbyterian
Church of Chester, Pa., with the following seven persons as members, all of
whom, except tow are now living and are still active in its membership: Dr. D.
W. Postles, Mrs. Lillian C. Postles, Mr. James Freeman, Mrs. A. E. Freeman,
Mr. Richard Nugent, Mrs. Annie Collins, Mrs. Thomas H. Hudson.
From this time, strenuous efforts were made to secure ground and erect a church
building, for the now growing congregation, which labors were abundantly
rewarded by obtaining a lot on West Third street below Norris, and the erection
of a handsome stone structure, the present edifice, with all modern church
arrangements and conveniences, with a comfortable seating capacity in the main
auditorium for several hundred persons, at a cost of ($8,000) eight thousand
dollars. The windows are a rich mulled and stained glass, with two memorials,
one by Mrs. Catharine Nugent to her son, the late Richard Nugent and elder of
the church, and a graduate of Lincoln University, who departed this life February
19th, 1904, and another dedicated to the late Rev. D. A. McWilliams, a devoted
friend of the church, and formerly pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of
this city, erected by the sessons [sessions] of the Presbyterian Churches of
Chester. On January 30, 1905 the church moved from the third floor of City Hall
Annex to a new stone building on W. 3rd near Norris St.
This church was renamed the Thomas M. Thomas Memorial Presbyterian
Church in the 1970's under the pastorate of Dr. Johnnie Monroe.
of the Colored People of Chester, 1906 compiled by Lawrence
L. Barrett & C. I. Wilson.
The first meeting looking toward establishing a Presbyterian Church among the
colored people of the city of Chester, was held August 14th, 1898, at a private
residence 1104 West Eighth street. The meetings continued until November 27th,
of the same year. A room having been secured in the City Hall on Market street,
the regular church services were conducted there. Accordingly, on May 18th,
1898, the church was duly organized under the title of the Fifth Presbyterian
Church of Chester, Pa., with the following seven persons as members, all of
whom, except tow are now living and are still active in its membership: Dr. D.
W. Postles, Mrs. Lillian C. Postles, Mr. James Freeman, Mrs. A. E. Freeman,
Mr. Richard Nugent, Mrs. Annie Collins, Mrs. Thomas H. Hudson.
From this time, strenuous efforts were made to secure ground and erect a church
building, for the now growing congregation, which labors were abundantly
rewarded by obtaining a lot on West Third street below Norris, and the erection
of a handsome stone structure, the present edifice, with all modern church
arrangements and conveniences, with a comfortable seating capacity in the main
auditorium for several hundred persons, at a cost of ($8,000) eight thousand
dollars. The windows are a rich mulled and stained glass, with two memorials,
one by Mrs. Catharine Nugent to her son, the late Richard Nugent and elder of
the church, and a graduate of Lincoln University, who departed this life February
19th, 1904, and another dedicated to the late Rev. D. A. McWilliams, a devoted
friend of the church, and formerly pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of
this city, erected by the sessons [sessions] of the Presbyterian Churches of
Chester. On January 30, 1905 the church moved from the third floor of City Hall
Annex to a new stone building on W. 3rd near Norris St.
This church was renamed the Thomas M. Thomas Memorial Presbyterian
Church in the 1970's under the pastorate of Dr. Johnnie Monroe.
About Us
Church History
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The following biographical sketch of the Rev. Thomas M. Thomas is taken
from the Home Directory of the Colored People of Chester, 1906 compiled by
Lawrence L. Barrett & C. I. Wilson.
Rev. Thomas M. Thomas, founding pastor of the Fifth Presbyterian Church
[now Thomas M. Thomas Memorial Presbyterian Church], was born in
Orangeburg county, South Carolina. He attended the schools of his former
home, also Claflin University, at Orangeburg, S.C. He entered Lincoln
University, graduating from the collegiate department June 4th, 1895;
afterwards from the theological department June 4th, 1898.
Rev. Thomas came to Chester June 22, 1898. The handsome stone edifice on
West Third street represents much of energy and good judgment of the
pastor, but according to statements attributed to Rev. Thomas, it stands for
the loyalty of the membership of the church and the unspeakable
encouragement of a large number of both white and colored people, regardless
of denomination.
from the Home Directory of the Colored People of Chester, 1906 compiled by
Lawrence L. Barrett & C. I. Wilson.
Rev. Thomas M. Thomas, founding pastor of the Fifth Presbyterian Church
[now Thomas M. Thomas Memorial Presbyterian Church], was born in
Orangeburg county, South Carolina. He attended the schools of his former
home, also Claflin University, at Orangeburg, S.C. He entered Lincoln
University, graduating from the collegiate department June 4th, 1895;
afterwards from the theological department June 4th, 1898.
Rev. Thomas came to Chester June 22, 1898. The handsome stone edifice on
West Third street represents much of energy and good judgment of the
pastor, but according to statements attributed to Rev. Thomas, it stands for
the loyalty of the membership of the church and the unspeakable
encouragement of a large number of both white and colored people, regardless
of denomination.
| Rev. Thomas M. Thomas Founding Pastor |
Trust in the Lord
with all your heart
and lean not on your
own understanding.
-Proverbs 3:5
with all your heart
and lean not on your
own understanding.
-Proverbs 3:5