Old Trinity Church

Old Trinity Church
Old Trinity Church from the Historic American Buildings Survey
40°3′16″N 75°5′11″W / 40.05444°N 75.08639°W / 40.05444; -75.08639Coordinates: 40°3′16″N 75°5′11″W / 40.05444°N 75.08639°W / 40.05444; -75.08639
Location	6900-6902 Oxford Ave. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
History
Founded	1711

Old Trinity Church, also known as Trinity Church, Oxford, is a historic Episcopal church founded around the turn of the 18th century in Oxford Township, Pennsylvania, which is now part of Philadelphia.

A marble stone in the wall of the church bears an inscription that Church of England services were first held on the site in 1698 in a Quaker meeting house of log construction. The present building was erected in 1711 of red and black brick believed to have been brought from England.

In 1759, the pews were installed. In 1807, the flooring was completed, and the entrance was moved from the north side to the west end. In 1833, the transepts were added, and in 1839, the tower was built. In 1875, according to a design by Philadelphia architect Frank Furness, the tower was shortened to one story, and the present corner tower and belfry were added. Minor additions were made in 1932.

A log meetinghouse on the site was used by the followers of George Keith, who from 1691 separated from the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), some joining the Church of England and others becoming Baptists and Seventh-Day Baptists. Church of England services were held at the site as early as 1698.

The church was founded with the help of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. The church's first pastor, the Rev. John Clubb, who served from about 1705 to 1715, and later the Rev. Robert Weyman, who served during the 1720s, were paid by the Society and shared duties between Oxford and St. David's Church in Radnor, about 20 miles to the west.