Christiana in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Christiana Presbyterian Church

American Presbyterian and Reformed Historical Site

Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, December 27, 2008

1. Christiana Presbyterian Church Marker

Inscription. Known in its early days as the "Presbyterian Church at Christiana Bridge," this congregation was organized in the 1730s. A church structure was built on this site soon after and a graveyard was established by the mid-18th century. Rev. Charles Tennant served as the first minister of the church, and the prominent English evangelist George Whitefield, a friend of the Tennant family, reportedly preached to a large gathering near this church in the late 1730s. Formally incorporated on July 29, 1790, the Christiana Presbyterian Church sold its original structure in the 1850s. The cornerstone of the present building was laid on September 8, 1857. The entire edifice was stuccoed in the early part of the 20th century. In the 1950s, the Ernest Freeman Hall Memorial Building was constructed to serve as a social hall for church functions. As part of the Christiana Historic District, the Christiana Presbyterian Church is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Erected 2007 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number NC-173.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Colonial Era. In addition, it is included in the American Presbyterian and Reformed Historic Sites

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, and the Delaware Public Archives series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1823.

Location. 39° 39.992′ N, 75° 39.553′ W. Marker is in Christiana, Delaware, in New Castle County. Marker is on Old Baltimore Pike (Delaware Route 7) near Delaware Route 7, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Newark DE 19702, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Old Fort Union American Methodist Episcopal Church (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Christiana Public School #111-C (about 700 feet away); Christiana United Methodist Church (about 700 feet away); Lafayette (approx. ¼ mile away); Last Mustering of The Delaware Continentals (approx. ¼ mile away); Samuel Patterson (approx. 0.3 miles away); Village of Christiana (approx. 0.3 miles away); John Lewden House (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Christiana.

Regarding Christiana Presbyterian Church. Christiana Presbyterian Church is a contributing building within the Christiana Historic District which was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This church is also one of 445 American Presbyterian and Reformed Historical Sites registered between 1973 and 2003 by the Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS),

Christiana Presbyterian Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, December 27, 2008

2. Christiana Presbyterian Church

headquartered in Philadelphia. Approved sites received a metal plaque featuring John Calvin’s seal and the site’s registry number (PHS marker location unknown).

The following text is taken from the Presbyterian Historical Society website:

Organized in 1732, the first church building was erected on the site in 1738. The present and second structure dates from 1857. Charles Tennent was the first pastor of the congregation. Samuel Patterson, who is buried under the church, was a Brigadier General in the Delaware Militia during the Revolution and a member of the Boston Relief Committee. The Church cemetery dates from 1752.

Christiana Presbyterian Church Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, December 27, 2008

3. Christiana Presbyterian Church Sign

Christiana Presbyterian Church and Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, December 27, 2008

4. Christiana Presbyterian Church and Cemetery

Christiana Presbyterian Church Hall image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, December 27, 2008

5. Christiana Presbyterian Church Hall

Credits. This page was last revised on February 5, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 27, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,140 times since then and 45 times this year. Last updated on February 5, 2020, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 27, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.