Matthew Anderson, D.D.

1845–1928

Matthew Anderson, D.D. (January 25, 1845 – January 11, 1928) was an African American Presbyterian minister, educator, and social reformer born in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, who graduated from Oberlin College and Princeton Theological Seminary, was ordained in 1878, and served as the long-time pastor of Berean Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia from 1880 until his death. He founded key community institutions—including the Berean Manual Training and Industrial School (later Berean Institute) and a building & loan association to promote homeownership and job skills—and used his pulpit and pen to advocate both spiritual renewal and social uplift for Black Americans within the Presbyterian Church and broader society. Anderson was also active in denominational leadership, earned an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Lincoln University in 1904, and was marked by a lifelong commitment to “the whole gospel for the whole community.”

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Matthew Anderson is buried at Eden Cemetery, Collingdale, Pennsylvania. This is “America’s oldest African American public burial ground established in 1902.” It is believed that Anderson’s actual birth date was January 25, 1845.

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