THE LEGACY THAT IS EMMANUEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Emmanuel United Methodist Church has a rich history of serving the spiritual needs of the residents of North Philadelphia for 75 years. The story begins in

September 1948.  Reverend Lawrence C. Brown, a local minister at Mt. Zion Methodist Church, and a handful of dedicated Christians saw the need of a Methodist church in the area of 15^th and Cumberland Streets.  Their labors enabled them to purchase a building on the southwest corner of Sydenham and Cumberland Streets.

After a period of two years, negotiations were begun to purchase the site of the present church – formerly the C. C. Hancock Memorial Church of the Philadelphia Conference of the Methodist Church.  Also, in 1950, Reverend Caleb Queen came in as Assistant Pastor.

In May of 1954, twenty-two adults, forty-six children and youth marched from the old church to occupy the new church – Emmanuel Methodist, here at 17^th and York Streets.

With God’s grace, Emmanuel has been blessed with several pastors and associate pastors for the past 75 years. Those include:

Rev. David W. Briddell, (Rev. Herbert E. Palmer as associate); Rev. Dr. Claude A. Edmonds (two associates: Rev. Kenneth H. Greene and Rev. R.T. Jones, Jr.); Rev. Carroll P. Boswell (associate Rev. Maurice Hughes); Rev. Clyde W. Henry; and Rev. Stanley Bolds.

In the year 1992, Emmanuel was blessed with its first female pastor, Rev. Varlyna D. Wright.  It was during her pastorate that one of those forty-six children that walked into these doors in 1954 shared in the ministry of the church as a seminary intern. The late Rev. Raymond Mitchell began his legacy of service here, before eventually becoming pastor of Berry-Long united Methodist Church in Philadelphia. It was also during this time that Rev. Carol Lawrence arrived at Emmanuel as a seminary intern.

Rev. Dr. Frederick Douglas, Jr., arrived in June of 1996 as pastor. Then in July 2001, Rev. Herbert N. Gibbons, Sr. was appointed to Emmanuel.  During his pastorate, he was elevated to the position of Elder.  Several members of this congregation, along with his family were in attendance at the Annual Conference in 2003 for this exciting appointment.

Diminishing rolls and financial lapses the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference re-classified Emmanuel as a “part-time” church. Rev. Pearl G. Scott Johnson (or Pastor Pearl as we fondly called her) was appointed to Emmanuel and also Deveraux United Methodist Church in a shared pastorate. Kellie Ebo, a seminary intern was appointed at that time also. Having finished her internship and schooling, Rev. Ebo was appointed pastor in 2012.

Rev. William Gary George came out of retirement to serve as part time pastor in 2017. He divided his time between Emmanuel and New Vision United Methodist Church. He was assisted in this endeavor by Rev. Towanda Connelly.

And then the Pandemic hit America! Emmanuel’s doors were closed and services were held via zoom.

In 2021 as the pandemic eased and things began to resemble some sense of normalcy, God brought Rev. James A. Duckett to Emmanuel.  Worship continues over the Zoom platform and a return to in-person service is a fervent prayer.

Then, just after Christmas, the church is burglarized. But with God’s Grace and Mercy, we resumed in-person services in January of 2022, on the first and third Sundays in the Fellowship Hall, as we began the repair process in the sanctuary. We continue using the Zoom platform every Sunday and in-person services have now returned to the sanctuary. Repair and re-building work continue.

Our numbers are smaller, but we are still here. We still stand.

We thank God for Emmanuel United Methodist Church and 75 Years of opportunity to serve! HIS unconditional love propels us ever-forward as we endeavor to do HIS will.  May God’s Grace and Mercy never cease!