Old is a word that is often taken for granted—it’s used loosely and with little regard for what is actually old and antique. Example: A 20-something complaining about being old after going for a run by the Delaware and feeling winded afterward. Get over yourself, sir, you’re not old. You probably just eat poorly and had too much fun in college.

Self-loathing confessions aside, The First Presbyterian Church in Kensington is one such thing that is actually old. Located on 418 E. Girard Ave., The First Presbyterian is celebrating its 200th year with a community party on Saturday, March 22 and a special bicentennial worship on Sunday, March 23.

The First Presbyterian’s earliest records date back to 1811 when a Welsh minister named Mr. Jenkins began Wednesday evening worship in his home on Crease Street. As the number of people coming to worship continued to increase, The Evangelical Society of Philadelphia stepped in to help raise funds for a proper church. In December 1813, fourteen trustees signed the church’s original charter and on March 23, 1814, The First Presbyterian Church in Kensington was officially created and built on Richmond and Palmer Streets.

“The Evangelical Society of Philadelphia actually went around the entire city soliciting funds to build a church in what was then called Kensington,” Shawn Hyska, Pastor at The First Presbyterian, said. “They raised a little below $3400 in 1813, built the building and handed it over to the congregation.”

Growth continued beyond that structure’s capacity and the current building on East Girard was dedicated in 1859. Externally, the church has changed quiet a bit since it was erected. The original 180-ft tall steeple was condemned in 1921 due to dangerous conditions.

“The steeple was falling down so the congregation voted to replace it by building a dome,” Hyska said. “This was actually a divisive situation since the vote was almost 50-50. But the dome has stood since.”

Inside the First Presbyterian, you can find stained-glass windows that were painted by the artist William Reith. These beautiful mosaics that shimmer in the soft light of the setting sun were installed into the sanctuary in the late 1800s. Each window depicts a different biblical story while also acting as memorials to the congregation’s early leaders. This includes people like Rev. Dr. George Chandler and William Cramp.

“On the Delaware, William Cramp had one of the largest shipyards in Philadelphia here in Fishtown,” Hyska explained. “He was one of the most prominent Fishtown residents in Philadelphia history and he was an elder at this church until he passed away in the late 1800s.”

All these years later, the First Presbyterian is still standing and making an impact on the neighborhood.

“The First Presbyterian has always been a place that people can call a community—people can always gather together as a community and be part of a larger family,” Hyska said. “The fact that this church has done that in Fishtown for 200 years and still has members who have been in the neighborhood for generations is a testament to that.”

Hyska, a young, amicable pastor who has been leading worship as the church’s pastor since December 2012, has also noted younger and newer faces joining First Presbyterian.

“People have started to venture in, a lot of the time because of the activities the church is doing and not necessarily our internal activities but activities that reach out. People are engaging with the Church.”

And it’s engagement that Hyska uses as his metric for deciding whether a church is successful or not, not simply the number of members the church has. To the church’s pastor, it’s a matter of reaching out and connecting with people. So while the neighborhood is changing around the church, the church itself is also morphing to serve anyone who walks through its doors. Religious reformist John Calvin once said that the church should not reform, but should constantly be reforming. The First Presbyterian agrees with that sentiment.

“[The church] is a reflection of the neighborhood itself. What was once a fishing neighborhood with shipyards now has no boats and no fish…. unless you go and get one of Johnny Brenda’s’ great crab sandwiches,” Hyska said. “I think the church has rode along with how society has engaged the world in a different way. When the people in these windows came to worship, there was no electricity, there was no organ, they had to come here for the daylight. But as we have advanced our culture, the church has gone along culture while staying true to the church’s beliefs and never neglecting society for moving in different directions.”

As for the celebrations, the community party on Saturday kicks off at noon and will feature local restaurants serving samples, birthday cake, face painting, a string band and at least two tables of artifacts from the I-95 archeological dig. On Sunday, worship begins at 10:30am and will feature a special performance from the Princeton Theological Seminary Choir. Hyska is excited for the weekend’s lineup, and sees it not only as a celebration of the church’s longevity but also the continued prosperity of the East Girard business corridor and the neighborhood at large.

“One of my main ministers is the power of affirmation—affirming people’s presence in the community,” he said. “Yes, this church is here but we have other business all along East Girard that are trying to make a living for themselves. Whether is Sketch across the street that makes the best burger in Philadelphia—dare I say, the country— or the new Falafel Hummus that just opened up next to Milkcrate Café, we like to extend to our neighborhood’s businesses, not just to reach out to them, but to thank them for being here. If it wasn’t for them who knows what would be on East Girard or if people would even want to come to East Girard.”

You can find out more information about The First Presbyterian Church in Kensington, its bicentennial celebration and other events online at www.1stpresbykensington.org