THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH A BRISTOL The name PRESBYTERIAN comes from a Greek word "presbuteros" or "presbyter" meaning ELDER. Our name refers to our distinctive form of government whereby each local congregation elects Ruling Elders from its membership, who together with a Teaching Elder (Pastor)form the governing body of the congregation, called the Session. Our congregation also has Deacons who are ordained to serve under the Session with special emphasis on our ministry to the sick or needy and Trustees who serve under the Session as legal representatives of the church as well as advising concerning financial affairs.

THIS CONGREGATION WAS BEGUN IN 1846 with fourteen members. The Reverend James Harlow, who was serving as the Pastor of the historic Bensalem Presbyterian Church came to Bristol (then a growing commercial town with a newly completed canal and railroad) to begin a Presbyterian Mission and Sunday School, or to use it's original name, Sabbath School.

IN A RATHER EXCITING WAY, Reverend Harlow literally built the first church here. Taking the stone ballast from ships to be filled with coal at the Mill Street wharf, he load edit on a horse drawn cart and brought it to this site to build the foundation. Then brick and wood were brought to Bristol by ferry to complete the structure. The little building, where the Sanctuary now stands, had a Sunday School room at the ground level and a Sanctuary on the upper floor. Around the turn of the century a new building was built behind the Church, facing Cedar Street. The old building was then used for a while as a community library until torn down.

THE CEDAR STREET YARD WAS ONCE the site of the County Courthouse with a whipping post and a beam extending from the gable to be used as a gallows for executions! In the 1700's the upper room was used as a courthouse and the Tower as a prison. When the county seat moved, it was taken over by the Bristol Borough council which used part of it as a schoolhouse.

THE NEW AND PRESENT SANCTUARY was completed in 1955. Levittown was being constructed and major alterations of the former Sanctuary were required; so the congregation voted to build an addition. It is a plain colonial style and the brick is from the same yard that made the brick for the first building on this site.

A MAJOR REFURBISHING was completed in 1979 which both beautified and improved our facilities. Included was the addition of a ramp for access of wheel chairs and those who can not navigate stairs. This is located on the Cedar Street Side of the building.

Our congregation has been served by 21 Pastors over its 150 years. The most famous to date, The Reverend James Mason Knox, later became President of Lafayette College.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 100 MEMBERS IN OUR CONGREGATION. THERE ARE MANY ACTIVITIES FOR GOD'S CHILDREN OF ALL AGES THIS YEAR WE WILL CELEBRATE 150 YEARS OF TEACHING THE MESSAGE OF JESUS CHRIST. FOR MORE INFORMATION ASK A MEMBER OF THE CONGREGATION, OR COME AND JOIN US FOR WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY.

SUNDAY WORSHIP - 11:00AM (10:00AM during Summer)
SUNDAY SCHOOL - 9:45am TO 10:45am for children and adults (Fall, Winter, Spring)
Nursery and Youth Church provided
Office hours are 8:30am to 1:30 PM Tuesday thru Friday
Phone: 215-788-0500 for more information

THANK YOU FOR VISITING OUR CHURCH TODAY!