Our History

Our History

Our Church History

In The Beginning

The Christian Church in Philadelphia took place on July 25, 1978 at The Goodwill Baptist Church, 4705 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Reverend Dr. Elijah Thompson, Jr., Pastor, on a Tuesday evening around 7:30 o'clock. More than 200 persons were present at this meeting and all of these persons agreed unanimously that they wanted the Reverend Gordon S. Houston to be their pastor. After sharing with those present that he believed the Bible to be the Word of God, the law and teaching for the church, and that the teaching of the Bible must be the final authority in the church, with sound theological interpretation, the Reverend Gordon S. Houston gave his whole-hearted consent to be their pastor until death or until the Lord directed him otherwise. Those present accepted. Thus, began The Christian Church in Philadelphia.

1978

The Church to be known as The Christian Church in Philadelphia

According to signed statements one hundred and eighty-three of the initial more than two hundred met on August 13, 1978 at The Calvary Episcopal Church on Manheim Street and Pulaski Avenue, Philadelphia (Germantown) Pennsylvania, Father John F. Leser, Rector, for their first worship. After the Service, the Pastor met with the Church Clerk and told her that he would like the Church to be known as The Christian Church in Philadelphia. In the interim, the Lord provided another place to worship: St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Wayne Avenue and Harvey Street, Father James A Forrest, Priest-in-Charge. With the blessed permission of Brother John M. Scruggs, Senior Warden, the Vestry and Father Forrest, Worship Services began at St Peter's on Sunday, September 3, 1978. The First Holy Communion as The Christian Church in Philadelphia was received at St. Peter's Episcopal Church. The Lord continued to bless TCCP adding some and taking away others.

1978

Articles of Incorporation were filed in the Department of State

After much sacrifice and dedication, Articles of Incorporation were filed in the Department of State on the fourteenth day of March 1979. An Incorporation Certificate was issued on April 13, 1979. This was a great boost for the Lord's people, - as was evidenced by their visible expressions of joy. In 1980, the young Church began to plan seriously toward the objective of buying a building in which to worship.

1979

Our First Worship Service

The first Worship Service was held in the new building on August 9, 1981. The burden and responsibility of preparing the building for worship were tremendous; yet, believing the Word and remaining constant in prayer, seventy or more persons moved forward, with The Holy Spirit as their guide. Between August 13, 1982 and June 20, 1983, the Church was granted a Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Exemption by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, Real Estate Tax Exemption from the City of Philadelphia through the Board of Revision of Taxes, Federal Income Tax Exemption by the Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, and the City of Philadelphia, Water Department, granted the Church Charity Rates.

1981

An Offer to Buy our Church

In the year of 1996, we believe the Lord sent Rite Aid of Pennsylvania, Inc. to offer to buy the supermarket that we had turned into our Church. After deliberation, the Advisory Council vis-à-vis Board of Directors of The Christian Church in Philadelphia voted unanimously to accept their offer of $1,500,000.00 and settlement was held on July 15, 1996.

1996

Our Our New Church Home

Yet, the young Church had received enough money to pay off all her indebtedness and decided to move forward in faith. During the period from July 15, 1996 to July 1, 1998, the young Church worshipped at a place called Lakey’s on Stenton Avenue and then in the Fellowship Hall of Zion Hill Church of God in Christ on Washington Lane with the blessing of her pastor, the late Reverend Dr. Lafayette Gooding. It was on July 1, 1998 that the Lord again blessed us with our present Church building at 8044 Stenton Avenue, Philadelphia (Chestnut Hill), Pennsylvania 19118-2941 at a cost of $475,000.00. We had our first Worship Service here on Sunday, July 5, 1998. What a blessing!

1998

The Christian Church in Philadelphia's New Pastor

In October of 2015, The Christian Church in Philadelphia called her second pastor in her forty- two-year history, The Reverend Dr. Alexander G. Houston, along with his wife and 2 daughters, who came to TCCP after a successful 5-year pastorate at The Cohansey Baptist Church, Bridgeton, NJ. With him came a revival of spirit and an excitement of all that God was planning to do in and through the life of the church. Since his installation as Pastor, the church has grown by leaps and bounds, welcoming many new members.

2015

Additional History

The people were happy and since being here the Lord has added to his Church a total of 191 souls with 94 of those coming to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Since being in our new Church, many have been blessed. Some have been healed from various maladies. A network of computers have been installed in our offices, new carpet has been installed in the sanctuary, nave, narthex, the nursery, the Sunday school room and our offices. Moreover, the Church has purchased and paid for a new piano, a new Hammond Organ and Leslie Speaker along with a new public address system. All of these improvements have been accomplished without incurring any debt at a cost of over $115,000.00. Weddings have taken place. Babies have been blessed and dedicated. And, the people just keep on rejoicing, because of what the Lord has done and is doing! The Church has counseled the weary, fed the hungry, visited the sick, and interceded in prayer for the community, the government, and the world! Also, The Christian Church in Philadelphia has licensed more than ten (10) men and women to the Gospel Ministry! Additionally, she has a Children’s Choir, Highways and Byways Ministry, Diaconate Ministry, Culinary Ministry, Usher’s Ministry, Men and Women Fellowship Ministries, Music Ministry, Young Adult Fellowship Ministry, Sunday Bible School Ministry, and Pastoral Aide Ministry.

The church has continued in her mission of “doing the work of Jesus” by preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, helping homeless families, providing food to the hungry, engaging and encouraging the seniors in our community, as well as impacting the lives of homeless men. The people are excited about all that God is doing in our midst! After much prayer, the church engaged in an ambitious debt reduction plan which will bring about the early payoff of the church mortgage! Throughout his brief tenure as pastor, Dr. Houston has led the church in over $60,000.00 of church renovations including a new roof in the fellowship hall, new windows, painting in the narthex, nursery, fellowship hall, and nave. In 2018, the TCCP painted and repaired the church steeple, to shine as a beacon of light now and always, and all of these things have been done to the glory of God and paid for in cash! Praise the Lord!

In addition to the capital improvements, the church has launched an exciting Children’s Church ministry which intentionally engages young people ages 4-10 during the Sunday morning worship, one (1) person has been licensed to preach the gospel, one (1) has been ordained to pastoral ministry, and three (ordained) to the diaconate. Church engagement and attendance along with tithes and offerings has increased exponentially upon the arrival of Dr. Houston and it remains to be seen all that God will continue to do in the days to come. For all of these things and more, we give praise to God!


For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD", plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11