A Century and A Half of History and Service

Saint Timothy’s Episcopal Church Turns 150!

By any measure, 150 years of existence is a significant achievement. Originally inspired by the churches of northern England, St. Timothy’s has maintained a central role in the Roxborough community since J. Vaughan Merrick and D. Rodney King founded the church as a Sunday school a century and a half ago.

Over the years, the parish has meticulously maintained the church’s beautiful building and grounds. St. Timothy’s gothic revival architecture and rich history merited a prominent place in the Roger W. Moss’ Historic Sacred Places in Philadelphia. The church officially incorporated on May 31^st, 1860. The cornerstone of the church building was laid in 1861. Since then, St. Timothy’s has been through several major expansions, reaching its present configuration of buildings in 1924.

Some of the highlights of our rich history include:

v Designed by architects Emlen T. Littell & Charles M. Burns (a student of Thomas Eakins).

v Founded St. Timothy’s Workman’s Club and Institute (5164 Ridge Ave) in 1877.

v Founded Roxborough Memorial Hospital (formerly St. Timothy’s Hospital and House of Mercy) in 1890.

v Founded a mission church and outreach center in Barnes Mountain, Kentucky in 1982.

v Survived three arson attempts.

v Air conditioned in 2008.

Today, St. Timothy’s is a vital and active congregation, offering worship, fellowship, education, and recreation to our members and neighbors. We are proud to offer:

v Worship that is vital yet still traditional, enhanced by a wonderful organ and choir.

v An active churchyard (cemetery) that serves as the final resting places of a Medal of Honor winner and a countess.

v Our signature bell tower containing eight bells rung by hand at each service.

v A magnificent Wicks/Buzard pipe organ installed in 2005.

v A variety of club activities, including Knitting Club, Book Club and The Franklin Society (the area’s only church-based beer club).

v Our partnership with North Light Community Center and our role as host parish for Northwest Interfaith Hospitality Network.

v Recent mission trips to the Dominican Republic and Barnes Mountain Kentucky.

v An active and growing youth group.

v A creative Vacation Bible School most recently with Narnia and Harry Potter themes.

v A membership that is diverse in age, ethnicity and socio-economic status.

v The last public building in Philadelphia to still have working indoor gaslights.