our history

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 The history of the Memorial Church of God in Christ dates back to 1933, when the first meeting was held on a street corner near Glenbrook Avenue in Bryn Mawr, PA.  Shortly following the first meeting, the meetings moved to the home of Mother Mary Tunnell, grandmother of Mother Leona Thompson (Memorial COGIC church mother, 1978-1997). A short time later, the small band of believers, including Elder Edward Crudup (founder), Mother Marie Crudup, Mother Henrietta Cousins, Mother Maggie Patterson, and others moved to a small storefront building on Glenbrook Avenue.

When it was noised abroad that the Gospel was being preached, and souls were being converted, Mother Henrietta Cousins (church mother) invited Mother Elizabeth Juanita Dabney of Philadelphia to conduct a revival. During this great revival, several families were added to the fellowship; among them were the Wilson, Thompson, and Cousins families. 

With Elder Edward Crudup as Founder and Pastor of what was then known as “the Church of God in Christ of Montgomery and Delaware County,” the membership increased until there was insufficient room to hold the people.  Consequently, Elder and Mother Crudup proceeded to search for larger quarters, and in 1934, were successful in locating a plot of land and a building at 747 Buck Lane, Haverford, PA which had more recently been a vacated rentable hall and prior to that, Haverford Public School No. 5 - 1876. 

Now established as "Memorial Church of God in Christ", Elder and Mother Crudup served and fed the flock of God until late 1946, when they departed to serve in Little Rock, California.

 In 1954, the Lord sent a great spiritual awakening in Memorial Church. It was then that Dr. Ozro Thurston Jones, Jr. of Philadelphia, PA (former Jurisdictional Prelate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Church of God in Christ, and Second Assistant Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ Inc.), was appointed Pastor. This marked the beginning of a great expansion project.  Here was an opportunity to herald the Gospel, and a challenge to bring peace to men, women, boys and girls who had possibly lost hope in life.  Here was an opportunity to enhance worship in an attractively renovated place of worship.  Dr. Jones led the church until 1964, when he was called to serve at the Holy Temple Church of God in Christ in Philadelphia, to continue the work founded by his father, Senior Bishop Ozro Thurston Jones, Sr.

On the first Sunday in October, 1971, upon the recommendation of Bishop Ozro Thurston Jones, Jr., Elder Nathaniel W. Porter, Sr., of Jersey City, New Jersey, was asked to come and preach to the congregation. He subsequently returned to preach for the following three Sundays.

On December 31, 1971, during the Watch Night Service, Elder Porter officially accepted the appointment to serve as Pastor of Memorial Church, with his devoted wife, Sister Narcissus Porter, standing faithfully by his side.  During his time of service, the church grew spiritually, numerically, and financially. From 1972 - 1974 the interior of the sanctuary was given a tremendous facelift; a dining area was added on the lower level, along with other renovation improvements. In 1997, major expansion and renovations were again completed on the church edifice.