This cemetery should not be confused with other, much larger burial grounds in and around Philadelphia named Zion — German Reformed, Lutheran, and the large Mount Zion Cemetery in Collingdale, Delaware County, which also served the City.

Between 1806 and 1812, the Mount Zion Christian Church became owner of a lot running one 156 feet on Christian Street, and extending through to Marriott's Lane west of Sixth Street. The congregation built a frame rneeting-house of one story at the southeast corner of Sixth and Christian Streets. In 1809 it was incorporated under the title, Christian Church, Mount Zion, of Southwark.

In the course of time the Christian Church built a better church building than that which they originally occupied. It was of brick, plain in appearance, and not extensive in size, being forty feel front and forty-seven feet deep. It was finished and opened for worship Sept. 5, 1819. Elder Robert Ferguson was pastor at this time, and remained until he was succeeded by Elder Frederick Plummer, who had charge of the church for a number of years, and was officiating in 1825. Mr. Ferguson accepted a call from a church in the South.

The history of this congregation is uneventful. Much industry was shown, but proselytism was not rapid. Their baptisms in the Delaware were objects of particular attention, one report noting in April, 1810, that "Elder Frederick Plummer, of the Christian Church, preached in the meeting-house at Christian Street, on Sunday, the 21st, and in the afternoon preached and baptized at the navy-yard, on the Delaware River."

Elder Plummer secured for those ministrations a piece of ground in New Jersey, on the bend of the river between Kaighn's Point and Gloucester Point, which in the course of time became very valuable, and was disposed of to great advantage. Plummer later established the Mount Olivet Free Christian Church in New London (later Franklin) Township in Chester County.

The church building was sold in 1906 to the Bethany Congregational Church, which had a short-lived tenancy before leaving the building vacant. The decaying burial ground was condemned in March, 1915 by the City of Philadelphia for a recreation facility. The ground was leveled off and the Sunshine Playground was built overtop.

Burials were never removed, and in 1996 the City sold the playground to a development corporation. During construction of a condominium complex in 2003, a number of graves were discovered.