Main content

Bustleton United Methodist Church records

Notifications

Held at: Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church [Contact Us]235 N. Fourth Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19106

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
08
Repository:
Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church
Extent:
5.33 linear feet
Language:
English
Date:
1830-2010 (inclusive)
Creator:
Bustleton United Methodist Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Abstract:
Methodists began meeting for worship in the Bustleton neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1827, although Bustleton Methodist Episcopal Church was not officially chartered until 1833. Bustleton United Methodist Church was discontinued around 2010. The Bustleton United Methodist Church records, 1830-2010, include membership and vital records, official board minutes, administrative board minutes, Quarterly Conference minutes, reports to Quarterly Conference, trustee minutes, bequests, building-related documents, newsletters, worship bulletins, anniversary and historical material, newspaper clippings, photographs, and various other documents.

Methodism is a protestant Christian faith based in the teachings of John Wesley (1703-1791), who preached "practical divinity," emphasis on Christian living, and putting faith and love into action. The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1784 in Baltimore, Maryland with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as its first bishops and held its first general conference in 1792. In May of 1939, the Methodist Episcopal Church; the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; and the Methodist Protestant Church united to form the Methodist Church (U.S.). In 1946 the Church of the United Brethren in Christ (New constitution) and the Evangelical Church united to form the Evangelical United Brethren Church. In 1968 the Methodist Church (U.S.) and the Evangelical United Brethren Church united, forming the United Methodist Church (U.S.).

In 1827, a group of Methodists began meeting for worship at the home of Daniel and Jane Starkey in the Bustleton neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Soon after, in 1833, a church building was erected at Bustleton Avenue and Welsh Road and Bustleton Methodist Episcopal Church was officially organized. After a fire destroyed the church building in 1866, a new structure was constructed. In 1944, this building was also destroyed by fire and a new church cornerstone was laid soon after between Lott and Fulmer Streets. Bustleton United Methodist Church was discontinued around 2010.

Bibliography:

"BUMC History," October 7, 1998. Document found in collection.

The collection includes: membership and vital records (baptisms, marriages, funerals, probationers, students), 1859-2010; official board minutes, 1898-1969; administrative board minutes, 1970-2010; Quarterly Conference minutes, 1859-2009; reports to Quarterly Conference, 1935-1960; trustee minutes, 1956-1996; bequests, 1954-2001; building-related documents; cemetery-related documents; newsletters, worship bulletins, anniversary and historical material, newspaper clippings, photographs, and various other documents. A folder-level inventory for the collection is available.

Some church records at the Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church, particularly membership and vital records, are available in digital form through Ancestry.com or on microfilm at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and/or the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania.

The Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church is the repository for records of member churches when they close.

Summary descriptive information on this collection was compiled in 2012-2014 as part of a project conducted by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania to make better known and more accessible the largely hidden collections of small, primarily volunteer run repositories in the Philadelphia area. The Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories (HCI-PSAR) was funded by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

This is a preliminary finding aid. No physical processing, rehousing, reorganizing, or folder listing was accomplished during the HCI-PSAR project.

In some cases, more detailed inventories or finding aids may be available on-site at the repository where this collection is held; please contact Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church directly for more information.

Organization
Subject
Place

Publisher
Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church
Finding Aid Author
Finding aid prepared by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories using data provided by the Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church
Sponsor
This preliminary finding aid was created as part of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories. The HCI-PSAR project was made possible by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Access Restrictions

Contact Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church for information about accessing this collection.

Collection Inventory

Membership Record Book, 1859-1893: Historical Record, 1831-1883; Probationers' Record, 1859-1893; Class Records, n.d., 1869, 1875, 1878, 1887; Alphabetical Record of Members in Full Connection, 1836-1898; Chronological Record of Official Members, 1800-1893; Pastoral and Statistical Record, 1863-1883; Record of Baptisms, 1863-1893; Marriage Record, 1863-1892.
Box 1 Folder 1
Membership Record Book, 1893-1942: Chronological Record of Official Members, 1893-1899; Probationers' Record, 1893-1941; Alphabetical Record of Members in Full Connection, 1854-1942; Record of Baptisms, 1893-1942; Marriage Record, 1893-1942.
Box 1 Folder 2
Membership Record Book, 1935-1960: Alphabetical Record of Members in Full Connection, 1881-1960; Record of Preparatory Members, 1935-1952; Record of Marriages, 1942-1960; Record of Baptisms, 1942-1960; Record of Funerals, 1942-1960.
Box 2 Folder 1
Membership Record Book, 1953-1990: Record of Baptisms, 1967-1990; Record of Preparatory Membership, 1953-1985; Record of Full Membership, 1967-1988.
Box 2 Folder 2
Membership Roll, 1981-2010.
Box 2 Folder 3
Baptisms, 1993-2010.
Box 2 Folder 4
Marriages, 1999-2006.
Box 2 Folder 5
Deaths, 1993-2009.
Box 2 Folder 6
Membership Record Book, 1952-1968: Record of Baptisms, 1952-1959; Record of Preparatory Membership, 1952-1959; Record of Full Membership, 1881-1959; Record of Marriages, 1952-1960; Record of Deaths, 1952-1960; Annual Summary, 1953-1968.
Box 3 Folder 1
Membership Record Book, 1959-1967: Record of Baptisms, 1959-1967; Record of Preparatory Membership, 1960-1966; Record of Full Membership, 1959-1967; Record of Marriages, 1959-1967; Record of Deaths, 1959-1967.
Box 4 Folder 1
Official Board Minutes, 1898-1908.
Box 5 Folder 1
Official Board Minutes, 1949-1950.
Box 5 Folder 2
Official Board Minutes, 1951-1955.
Box 5 Folder 3
Official Board Minutes, 1955-1957.
Box 5 Folder 4
Official Board Minutes, 1958-1962.
Box 5 Folder 5
Official Board Minutes, 1963-1964.
Box 5 Folder 6
Official Board Minutes, 1965-1967.
Box 6 Folder 1
Official Board Minutes, 1968-1969.
Box 6 Folder 2
Administrative Board Minutes, 1970-1978.
Box 6 Folder 3
Administrative Board Minutes, 1979-1987.
Box 6 Folder 4
Administrative Board Minutes, 1988-1991.
Box 6 Folder 5
Administrative Board Minutes, 1991-1995.
Box 6 Folder 6
Administrative Council Minutes, 1996-1999.
Box 7 Folder 1
Administrative Council Minutes, 2000-2003.
Box 7 Folder 2
Administrative Council Minutes, 2004-2006.
Box 7 Folder 3
Administrative Council Minutes, 2007-2010.
Box 7 Folder 4
Quarterly Conference Minutes, 1859-1878.
Box 8 Folder 1
Quarterly Conference Minutes, 1878-1916.
Box 8 Folder 2
Quarterly Conference Minutes, 1935-1939.
Box 8 Folder 3
Quarterly Conference Minutes, 1940-1960.
Box 8 Folder 4
Quarterly Conference Minutes and Reports, 1961-1964.
Box 8 Folder 5
Quarterly Conference Minutes, 1971-1987.
Box 8 Folder 6
Quarterly Conference Minutes, 2007-2009.
Box 8 Folder 7
Treasurer's Reports to Quarterly Conference, 1935-1959.
Box 9 Folder 1
Quarterly Conference Roll and Attendance, 1943-1960.
Box 9 Folder 2
Temperance Reports to Quarterly Conference, 1947-1951.
Box 9 Folder 3
Choir Reports to Quarterly Conference, 1947-1952.
Box 9 Folder 4
Lay Leader's Reports to Quarterly Conference, 1948-1960.
Box 9 Folder 5
Reports to Quarterly Conference on Education, 1949-1960.
Box 9 Folder 6
Financial Reports to Quarterly Conference, 1951-1960.
Box 9 Folder 7
Membership Reports to Quarterly Conference, 1951-1960.
Box 9 Folder 8
Pastor's Reports to Quarterly Conference, 1932-1960.
Box 9 Folder 9
Reports to Quarterly Conference, 1952-1956.
Box 9 Folder 10
Missions Reports to Quarterly Conference, 1957-1960.
Box 9 Folder 11
W.S.C.S. Report to Quarterly Conference, 1960.
Box 9 Folder 12
Trustee's Reports to Charge Conference, 1979-1991.
Box 9 Folder 13
Charter, 1833; Trustee Minutes, 1833-1881.
Box 10 Folder 1
Amended Charter, 1879; Trustee Minutes, 1881-1942.
Box 10 Folder 2
Trustee Minutes, 1956-1964.
Box 10 Folder 3
Trustee Minutes, 1965-1984.
Box 10 Folder 4
Trustee Minutes, 1985-1991.
Box 11 Folder 1
Trustee Minutes, 1992-1996.
Box 11 Folder 2
Charter and Amendments, 1834-1969.
Box 11 Folder 3
Miscellaneous Bequests, 1954, 1963, 1978, 1984, 1996, 2000.
Box 11 Folder 4
Reading Brooks Bequest, 1957.
Box 11 Folder 5
Charles J. Catanach Bequest, 1958.
Box 11 Folder 6
Ethel D. deKalb Bequest, 1967.
Box 11 Folder 7
Wenker Memorial Trust, 1977.
Box 11 Folder 8
Mary A. Maugel Bequest, 1981.
Box 11 Folder 9
Elsie C. Lowe Bequest, 1982.
Box 11 Folder 10
Caroline Fry Bequest, 1986.
Box 11 Folder 11
Mary A. Maugel Bequest, 1988.
Box 11 Folder 12
Helen S. Beck Bequest, 1996.
Box 11 Folder 13
Robert Kelso Bequest, 1996.
Box 11 Folder 14
Roy Them Bequest, 1996.
Box 11 Folder 15
Doris E. Erb Bequest, 2000.
Box 11 Folder 16
Russel C. Pinker Bequest, 2001.
Box 11 Folder 17
Deeds, 1830, 1834.
Box 12 Folder 1
Bond and Warrant, Benjamin M. Dungan, 1868.
Box 12 Folder 2
Bond and Warrant, Joseph Byers, 1876.
Box 12 Folder 3
Meetings and plans for rebuilding, 1944-1949.
Box 12 Folder 4
Permitting process for rebuilding, 1946.
Box 12 Folder 5
Construction Documents, 1946-1949.
Box 12 Folder 6
Cornerstone Laying, 1947.
Box 12 Folder 7
Dedication of new church, 1947.
Box 12 Folder 8
Blueprints, 1945-1995.
Box 12 Folder 9
Parsonage Dedication, 1948.
Box 12 Folder 10
Mortgage, 1949.
Box 12 Folder 11
Church School Building dedication, 1950.
Box 12 Folder 12
Mortgage, 1966.
Box 12 Folder 13
Cemetery Deeds, 1832-1865.
Box 12 Folder 14
Cemetery Plan and blueprint, 1946.
Box 12 Folder 15
Cemetery Removal, 1961.
Box 12 Folder 16
Record of Burial Plots, 1833-1960.
Box 12 Folder 17
Sale of Cemetery Grounds, 1961.
Box 12 Folder 18
9701 Bustleton Avenue, Purchase, 1966.
Box 13 Folder 1
9701 Bustleton Avenue, Lease Agreement, 1973.
Box 13 Folder 2
Northeast Pastoral Counseling Center, 1991-1993.
Box 13 Folder 3
9701 Bustleton Avenue, Sale, 1993-1994.
Box 13 Folder 4
Special Programs, 1947, 1948, c. 1984.
Box 13 Folder 5
Worship Bulletins, 1947-2010 (Selected).
Box 13 Folder 6
Newsletters, 1957-2010 (Selected).
Box 13 Folder 7
George Washington High School, Lease, 1995.
Box 13 Folder 8
Deeds, Investment Properties, 1932, 1934.
Box 13 Folder 9
Annual Financial Statements, 1899, 1935-1958.
Box 13 Folder 10
Membership Directories, 1919, 1928, 1932, 1952, 1959.
Box 13 Folder 11
Membership Directories, 1978, 1983, c. 1985, 1993.
Box 13 Folder 12
Brief Histories, 1998, 2010.
Box 14 Folder 1
History, 1827-1967.
Box 14 Folder 2
Newspaper Clippings, 1944-1947.
Box 14 Folder 3
100th Anniversary, 1933.
Box 14 Folder 4
Anniversaries, 1923-1958.
Box 14 Folder 5
Photographs, 1867 Church Building.
Box 14 Folder 6
Photographs, Church Construction, 1946-1947.
Box 14 Folder 7
Photographs, Parsonage Construction, 1947.
Box 14 Folder 8
Photographs, Church School Building Construction, 1950.
Box 14 Folder 9
Photographs, 1958-2010.
Box 14 Folder 10
Photographs of Clergy, 1946-1990.
Box 14 Folder 11
Photographs, oversize, 1946-1983.
Box 15 Folder 1
History file.
File 1
History File Scope and Contents note

Essay - "Faith and Determination" (undated); Request for Info; History of Methodism in Bustleton; History of the Christian Church and The Origin of Methodism; (Calendar and Diary 1934); A Brief History 1932; Church School-Family Picnic 1967 Listing; Correspondence Re: Report Presentation; May 1967-Service bulletin; Dedication of Church Building 1947 bulletin; 1952 directory; April 1930 directory; July 1931

Print, Suggest