The congregation was formally organized in January 1810. A church was erected on property purchased on Crown Street (Lawrence Street) above Race Street. Its official title was "The Evangelical Reformed Congregation of the City and Vicinity of Philadelphia." At the time, Philadelphia extended from Pine Street on the south to Vine Street on the north. Beyond these limits were independent municipalities, which have since been incorporated in the city, where members of the congregation lived.

The second pastor came in 1809 and served as stated supply until April 1813. The same month he left with some members to form a Presbyterian church, the remaining congregation applied to The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church (now The Reformed Church in America) for affiliation. They were enrolled in the Classis of New Brunswick, and a committee was appointed by the Classis to effect the organization. The congregation became part of their adopted denomination in May 1813. The congregation took the title First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the City and Vicinity of Philadelphia. The only other congregation of the denomination in the area to predate this one is in Bucks County, the North and Southampton Reformed Church in Churchville, which was organized in 1710.

The charter was amended and the title changed to the "First Reformed Dutch Church of the City and Vicinity or Philadelphia" and signed by the governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Simon Snyder, on November 15, 1815.