1727 – September 21 Rev. Michael Weiss and 109 men and their families from the Palatinate region of Germany land in Philadelphia. (1st group to sign oath of allegiance to Crown) Share worship space with Lutherans in a falling-down butcher shop near 5th & Arch.
1741 – Franklin Square land for burial ground deeded to church by Proprietors Thomas, Richard and John Penn
1745 – Parochial school built facing Cherry St.
1747 – Hexagonal church built on 4th below Race; coetus forms the German Reformed Church
1762 – Rev. Rothenbuehler resigns and splinter group builds St. George’s
1765 – Charter of Incorporation granted by Proprietors Thomas and Richard Penn
1772 – Large church replaces hexagonal building
1777 – British use church as hospital during occupation of city; Rev. Weyberg preaches to the Hessians and is briefly imprisoned
1793 – Yellow fever epidemic; Rev. Winkhaus dies
1796 – New school building behind church replaces first building
1798 – Chain law enacted
1798 – Yellow fever epidemic; Rev. Hendel dies
1806 – Sunday school established in schoolhouse
1806 – Language schism: English speakers leave to establish Crown St. Dutch Reformed Church
1828 – Charles Grandison Finney & Second Great Awakening
1830 – Language schism: German speakers leave
1831 – Chain law repealed
1836 – PA Supreme Court decision returns Franklin Square burial ground to city
1837 – Modern building replaces 1772 church; dedicated Easter Sunday, March 4
1844 – Rev. Joseph F. Berg, virulent anti-Catholic, fuels the Philadelphia Nativist Riots
1845 – Mercersburg Controversy
1882 – Sale of 4th & Race St. property to John Lucas
1884 – 10th & Wallace dedicated
1917 – Congregation decides to build a new building at 50th & Locust
1923 – The Gleaner – 1st church publication
1925 – 50th & Locust church dedicated
1926 – General Synod of the Reformed Church in America held at 50th & Locust
1934 – OFC becomes a congregation of the Evangelical and Reformed Church
1957 – OFC becomes a congregation of the United Church of Christ
1966 – Congregation accepts offer from the Redevelopment Authority to buy back 4th & Race
1967 – October 1, first service back at 4th & Race
1971 – First live animal Christmas Crèche
1976 – Ground breaking for Christian Ed (parish house) building
1981 – Congregation calls a woman pastor, Rev. Geneva Butz
1996 – Congregation resolves to be “Open and Affirming”
2009 – First E-pistle