Why You Should Visit Old Pine’s Churchyard
If you haven’t taken a walking tour or bus tour by Old Pine Churchyard at 412 Pine Street recently, you may want to start.
Why? There’s much more to view here than most people realize.
As a starter, you’ll see more 13-star red, white and blue flags fluttering over the graves of Revolutionary War veterans at Old Pine than any other spot I know of in Philadelphia.
13-star flags fluttering over the graves of Revolutionary War veterans at Old Pine. Photo by Jim Murphy, author of Real Philly History, Real Fast.
Old Pine’s churchyard is filled with the graves of up to 285 soldiers from the War of Independence. And Old Pine Conservancy installs new flags over every single grave each Memorial Day.
The resulting blaze of waving color evokes strong feelings of patriotism and gratitude in many people passing by. It is a sight to behold.
And no wonder. Members of Old Pine Presbyterian Church made huge personal sacrifices during this war. In eight years, 590 men from Old Pine served their country, a huge number from one small church.
While one delegate to the Continental Congress and signer of the U.S. Constitution is buried at Old Pine, most of the residents here had “boots on the ground.” They were not summer soldiers and sunshine patriots. They were people who made extreme family sacrifices to defend their new country. And churchyard flags hover above these heroes.
Interesting Oddities:
Old Pine, known as “The Church of the Patriots,” was hated by the British. During their occupation of Philadelphia from September 1777 to June 1778, they used the church as a hospital and a stable. British troops tore up pews and the pulpit for firewood, and left the building with four windowless walls, a cedar shake roof and a strong barnyard smell.
Among the 3,000 to 4,000 residents buried at three different levels in less than an acre at Old Pine are: ship captains, privateers, politicians, printers, merchants, artisans, ministers, 100 Hessians and one Tory. Sixty tiny white signs throughout the cemetery highlight the stories of some key individuals buried here.
More recent notable burials include: In Ho Oh, a University of Pennsylvania Korean graduate student killed in West Philadelphia in 1958; and Eugene Ormandy, renowned conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra for 44 years, who is buried here along with his wife Margaret (also known as Gretel). By written agreement, Old Pine Street Church places a dozen roses on their gravestone every May 15, the date of their wedding anniversary.
Memorial to Eugene Ormandy, renowned conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Memorial to In Ho Oh, who died in Philadelphia in 1958.
The Preacher and the Politician:
Preacher George Duffield, a fiery preacher at Old Pine was such a proponent of American independence that he had a price of 50 pounds placed on his head by the British.
Evidently, Duffield was also persuasive. Shortly after the Battle of Lexington and Concord, he told the congregation: “There are too many able-bodied men here today. Tomorrow, I shall join the cause.” At some point, depending on what report you believe, 67, 91 or 110 men from the church followed their pastor into the army.
John Adams, A Founding Father of the U.S., called Reverend Duffield “My parish priest.” In addition, Ronn Shaffer, Old Pine’s now-deceased long-time church historian, said Adams referred to Duffield as “The Patriot Pastor” and to Old Pine Church as “The War Office. Duffield, a powerful preacher and magnetic minister, also served as co-chaplain to the Continental Congress. You’ll see a tree sculpture of him on the west side of the churchyard.
Note: Old Pine’s church is now air-conditioned, so the church can book weddings even during the hot summer months. The church also recently refurbished the sanctuary pews, a major undertaking.