Mount Vernon Baptist Church: THE BUILDING History

African-Americans have been a significant part of the Philadelphia Germantown area history for the past 300 years. Additionally, Philadelphia has served as the hub of African American religious growth for more than 200 years. Evident in the historic church buildings throughout the city, most of the structures have been occupied by more than one black congregation. Similar is the case with 458 East Rittenhouse Street. Formerly occupied by one of the oldest congregations in the nation’s history, The Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, the building was home to the historic congregation before being acquired by the congregation of Mount Vernon Baptist Church on October 14th 1960. 458 East Rittenhouse is a significantly historic site because it has been home to only two African American Religious Congregations for more than 150 years. To date, the structure continues to be unaltered and still in its original state which embodies the originality and integrity through its Gothic Revival Architecture. Originally a single story Wissahickon Schist structure which erected in 1860 a second structure was constructed in 1893 and the last addition, a baptistery, was affixed in the 1970’s.

The location of the building, as a corner plot at the top of the hill at the intersection of now Rittenhouse (formally Center) and Morton Streets is significant and linked to the prominent Mortier family. One of the wealthy and renowned Black families of the 1800’s the Montier’s moved to Germantown from Cheltenham in the mid 1800’s. They were instrumental in establishing the Bethel AME Church, then known as “Center Street AME Church” in the residences of Amanda Montier and Ann Hilton. As the congregation grew, the Montier’s found themselves in need of a larger space for their prayer meetings as the residences were no longer enough to hold the congregation.

Having an instrumental role in the history of the structure of the building as well; the Montiers are not only founders of the church, but also benefactors to the church. Being the prominent and wealthy family that they were, their economic standing helped the church gain their own building for worshipping and raised funds to purchase a house for the Pastor on the same street i.e. Center Street.