Our History

For over 130 years Chelten has been sustained by God’s grace

Original church building

Chelten’s mission remains firm:
worship the triune God, nurture His family and share his gospel of hope.

On the street corner of Woodlawn Avenue and Chew in Germantown, PA a small group met in a store-front for Sunday school in 1891. Over a century later, God has grown those humble beginnings into a thriving Chelten church family located in Dresher, PA.

In 1899 that initial store-front group had increased to where a building for the growing congregation was needed and then built on Chelten Avenue east of Boyer Street. Later, as demographics shifted following WW2, the congregation felt the Lord’s leading toward the suburbs. In 1961 property was purchased in Upper Dublin and the current building was constructed and dedicated in 1965.

For over 130 years Chelten has been sustained by God’s grace, and the church’s mission continues to remain firm: to worship the triune God, to nurture his family and to share his gospel of hope. We thank God for his faithfulness to Chelten and anticipate his leading our future.

A Small Start

A small Sunday school group, that met in a storefront in Germantown, PA, grew into a congregation of 45 people. They moved to a private home and then to a nearby chapel as they continued adding to their number. Eight years later the original church building was erected on Chelten Avenue east of Boyer Street. In 1900 the church was named Chelten Avenue Baptist Church.

1891

A New Home

Seeing the need for church ministry in the newly-established suburbs, the congregation purchased property in Dresher: a house, barn and 7.5 acres on Limekiln Pike. Four years later the newly constructed 10,000 square foot church was dedicated.

1961

A Strong Constitution

A new church constitution and bylaws were adopted restructuring Chelten’s ministries under Edification, Worship, and Evangelism/Mission. These ministries functioned under the newly-established Chelten Board of Elders.

1986

A Cord of Three Strands

The Pastoral Leadership Team (PLT) model was established composed of three senior pastors.

2014

A Church of Hope

Our current PLT consists of Dr. Bill Krewson, Dr. Jin Lee, and Rev. Jon Shepherd. The church is known as Chelten – a church of hope. We have been sustained by the grace of God for over 120 years and the church’s mission remains firm: to worship the triune God, to nurture his family, and to share his gospel of hope. May God continue to enable Chelten to serve others and reflect his glory.

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