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First Presbyterian Church

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1832, Thomas Ustick Walter. W. Miner and S. Darlington sts.
  • (HABS)
  • (© George E. Thomas)

The crisp stucco planes and sculptural Ionic capitals of Walter's design are similar to other Presbyterian churches in the region, suggesting that classical styles came to be adopted by the denomination beginning with John Haviland's First Presbyterian Church (1820–1822) on Washington Square in Philadelphia (demolished). Another surviving example is the similar Presbyterian church of 1838 in Princeton, New Jersey, often attributed to Charles Steadman, whose facade elevation was actually also by Thomas Walter. Although Walter was a Baptist, in the first few years of his career Presbyterian churches were a mainstay of his practice, with half-a-dozen commissions for buildings as far west as Louisville, Kentucky. Walter also designed the Federal-style house for Judge Thomas Bell at 101 S. Church Street in 1835.

Writing Credits

Author: 
George E. Thomas
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Data

What's Nearby

West Chester Fire Company No. 1
Chester County Courthouse
Church of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
First Baptist Church
Southeast National Bank (Bank of Chester County)

Citation

George E. Thomas, "First Presbyterian Church", [West Chester, Pennsylvania], SAH Archipedia, eds. Gabrielle Esperdy and Karen Kingsley, Charlottesville: UVaP, 2012—, http://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/PA-02-CH17.

Print Source

Cover: Buildings of PA vol 2

Buildings of Pennsylvania: Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania, George E. Thomas, with Patricia Likos Ricci, Richard J. Webster, Lawrence M. Newman, Robert Janosov, and Bruce Thomas. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2012, 246-246.

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