Celebration events include “Music in Our Soul” concert, Gala Celebration Dinner and 100th Anniversary Homecoming and Worship Service
Camphor Memorial Church is excited to announce the celebration of its 100th Church Anniversary! The celebration will begin this fall with a concert on Sunday, October 2, at 3:00 pm, featuring the Lincoln University Concert Choir and Hazel Hall-Jefferson, soprano, in the historic sanctuary located at 5620 Wyalusing Avenue, Philadelphia.
On Saturday, November 19, at 3:00 PM, members and friends will gather for a Gala Celebration including dinner and dancing at the Marriott Courtyard City Avenue in Philadelphia. The following day, Sunday, November 20, 2022, will be the special 100th Anniversary and Homecoming Worship Service that will welcome all families and friends, pastors, churches, and public officials to a morning of special music, prayers, historical presentations and preached Word.
Donations are being raised in this 100th year for much-needed repairs to the sacred building. The goal is to raise $100,000 to repair the roof, rehabilitate the kitchen and bathrooms, and upgrade the heating and air conditioning systems. Support of the 100th Anniversary Campaign will be greatly appreciated.
Donations, letters of congratulations, advertisements, memorials and Gold Patron listings for the 100th Anniversary Souvenir Journal are welcome and may be submitted via the church website, www.camphormemorial.org. For more information, email the 100th Anniversary Committee at info@camphormemorial.church or call the church, 215-747-2600.
Camphor began in 1922 when Rev. William Casey, pastor of Calvary Methodist Episcopal Church (now Tindley Temple) and his wife, Catherine, opened their home at 5832 Filbert Street to a small group of neighbors for Bible studies and class meetings as there were no Methodist churches in West Philadelphia. The following year, the Board of Home Missions appropriated funds to establish six missions in West Philadelphia, including our small “Saint Matthew Mission”.
At the Annual Session of the Delaware Conference in 1923, the name of the St. Matthew Mission was changed to Camphor Memorial Methodist Church in honor of Alexander Priestly Camphor, the 4th African American to be consecrated a bishop by the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our first pastor was Rev. William E. Hilton and our first worship service was held on December 9, 1923, in a leased “store front” at 5818 Vine Street. The membership grew rapidly and in May 1924, Camphor purchased a lot at 58th and Haverford Streets and built an edifice known as “Little Camphor.” After the Depression, the church and ministries blossomed under the dynamic leadership of Rev. Marion Clark, Rev. Dr. Noah Moore, Rev. Daniel Rideout and Rev. Marion Ballard.
The present sanctuary and buildings were acquired in January 1943.
The church thanks God for continuously blessing them with wonderful pastors who have emphasized Christian education and community-oriented programs and engaged the congregation in discipleship, developing new ministries and revitalizing existing ministries to meet the changing needs of our community. To God be the glory!