On November 29^th in the year 1853, thirteen residents of Beverly and its surrounds gathered in a small building on Cooper Street.  They were met there by the Rev. Thomas Brainerd, D.D., a representative of The Philadelphia Fourth Presbytery (N.S.).  These five men and eight women were recognized by the Presbytery congregation of The Beverly Presbyterian Church.  The Rev. Charles Boyter (the Organizing Pastor of our church) was the meeting secretary and continued to lead the congregation for over five years as a supply pastor.  In 1858 members of Session were sent out to solicit pledges and subscriptions from the members for the purpose of eliminating a small debt and to raise the needed funds to call a pastor.  Reverend Charles Bliss of Massachusetts answered the call in 1859 and became the first installed pastor of The Beverly Presbyterian Church.

After twenty years and several pastors, the congregation outgrew the small building they had purchased in 1854 from St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and decided to construct a new church.  After several false starts and much hard work, they saw their new church completed and dedicated it on December 14, 1873.  Rev. Boyter passed away in 1870 and while he was aware that the new church was soon to come, he never saw it finished.  His wife, Harriet, did see its completion and worked tirelessly and faithfully for the growth of the church and in the service of God until her death in 1898.

The first chapel was built in 1876 and was opened for use as the Sabbath School with much fanfare.  This building became known as the Main Chapel after a second chapel, known as “Grace Chapel” was built near the wharf section of Beverly for local mission and outreach Sunday School.  Grace Chapel was completed and dedicated in February of 1890.  The Manse was built in 1894 with funds raised by the Ladies Aid Society.  The mortgage on the Manse was fully paid in less than four years due to the ladies’ diligence and a “penny-a-day’ program they implemented.  Through the years the church has remained dedicated to Christian Education.  In 1950 the two Chapel Schools were consolidated into a single location at the Main Chapel and Grace Chapel was sold to St. James Baptist Church.  The Christian Education Building was erected in 1961 to connect the Main Chapel (now called “Fellowship Hall”) to the church building (Sanctuary).  This addition provided space for the church offices, lending library, class rooms, and meeting rooms.  The congregation has a long history of supporting missions both local and foreign and even in times of great financial stress continued to meet its obligations worldwide.