East Mount Airy in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Germantown Meetinghouse

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., June 30, 2009

1. Germantown Meetinghouse Marker

Inscription. Built here in 1770 – the first meetinghouse of the Church of the Brethren in the nation. Founded in Germany in 1708, the denomination was entirely transplanted to America by 1750 due to religious persecution. Many early Brethren leaders are buried in the cemetery.

Erected 2008 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1770.

Location. 40° 3.003′ N, 75° 11.056′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in East Mount Airy. It is at the intersection of Germantown Avenue and E Montana Street, on the right when traveling north on Germantown Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10 Montana St, Philadelphia PA 19119, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania. It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Church of the Brethren (within shouting distance of this marker); Battle of Germantown (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Four Patriots of the American Revolution (about 600 feet away); Germantown Ave. Electrification

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(approx. 0.2 miles away); Barn & Carriage House (approx. 0.2 miles away); The American Side of the Street (approx. ¼ mile away); The Delaware Regiment (approx. ¼ mile away); Revolutionary War Witness Tree (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Cliveden (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . . Germantown Meetinghouse. Brethren Historical Library and Archives. (Submitted on October 11, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, October 11, 2008

2. Germantown Meetinghouse Marker

Marker on Germantown Ave image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, October 11, 2008

3. Marker on Germantown Ave

Germantown Meetinghouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, October 11, 2008

4. Germantown Meetinghouse

The cemetery where the early Brethren leaders are buried can be seen in this photo behind the meetinghouse.

Germantown Meetinghouse and Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., June 30, 2009

5. Germantown Meetinghouse and Sign

Tercentennial plaque on the church building dedicated in 2023 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 25, 2025

6. Tercentennial plaque on the church building dedicated in 2023

Credits. This page was last revised on January 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 11, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,440 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 2, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 11, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 5. submitted on September 2, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 6. submitted on January 26, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.