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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM T-1

                            STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                      UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
                  OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

                CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY
                   OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)



                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
               (EXACT NAME OF TRUSTEE AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)


  A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION                              36-0899825
                                                            (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
                                                         IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)

ONE FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS                   60670-0126
         (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)             (ZIP CODE)

                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
                      ONE FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA, SUITE 0286
                          CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60670-0286
             ATTN: LYNN A. GOLDSTEIN, LAW DEPARTMENT (312) 732-6919
            (NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)



                     PHILADELPHIA CONSOLIDATED HOLDING CORP.
               (EXACT NAME OF OBLIGOR AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)



            PENNSYLVANIA                                    23-2202671
   (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                       (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
   INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                     IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)

       ONE BALA PLAZA, SUITE 100
     BALA CYNWYD, PENNSYLVANIA                                19004
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                  (ZIP CODE)

                                 DEBT SECURITIES
              GUARANTEE OF PREFERRED SECURITIES OF PCHC FINANCING I
                         (TITLE OF INDENTURE SECURITIES)
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ITEM 1.           GENERAL INFORMATION.  FURNISH THE FOLLOWING
                  INFORMATION AS TO THE TRUSTEE:

                  (a)      NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH EXAMINING OR
                  SUPERVISING AUTHORITY TO WHICH IT IS SUBJECT.

                  Comptroller of the Currency, Washington, D.C., Federal Deposit
                  Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., The Board of
                  Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington D.C.

                  (b)      WHETHER IT IS AUTHORIZED TO EXERCISE
                  CORPORATE TRUST POWERS.

                  The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

ITEM 2.           AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.  IF THE OBLIGOR
                  IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH
                  SUCH AFFILIATION.

                  No such affiliation exists with the trustee.


ITEM 16.          LIST OF EXHIBITS.   LIST BELOW ALL EXHIBITS FILED AS A
                  PART OF THIS STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY.

                  1.  A copy of the articles of association of the
                      trustee now in effect.*

                  2.  A copy of the certificates of authority of the trustee to
                      commence business.*

                  3.  A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise
                      corporate trust powers.*

                  4. A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee.*

                  5.  Not Applicable.

                  6.  The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of
                      the Act.



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                  7.  A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee
                      published pursuant to law or the requirements of its
                      supervising or examining authority.

                  8.  Not Applicable.

                  9.  Not Applicable.


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
         amended, the trustee, The First National Bank of Chicago, a national
         banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United
         States of America, has duly caused this Statement of Eligibility to be
         signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all
         in the City of Chicago and State of Illinois, on the 27th day of March,
         1998.


                      THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                      TRUSTEE

                      BY  /s/ Steven M. Wagner
                          --------------------
                           STEVEN M. WAGNER
                           VICE PRESIDENT





* EXHIBIT 1, 2, 3 AND 4 ARE HEREIN INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE TO EXHIBITS BEARING
IDENTICAL NUMBERS IN ITEM 16 OF THE FORM T-1 OF THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF
CHICAGO, FILED AS EXHIBIT 25.1 TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3 OF
SUNAMERICA INC., FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 2,
1996 (REGISTRATION NO. 333-14201).




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                                    EXHIBIT 6



                       THE CONSENT OF THE TRUSTEE REQUIRED
                          BY SECTION 321(b) OF THE ACT


                                                  March 27, 1998



Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C.  20549

Gentlemen:

In connection with the qualification of the (i) one or more indentures of
Philadelphia Consolidated Holding Corp., and (ii) a Preferred Securities
Guarantee Agreement of the Preferred Securities of PCHC Financing I by
Philadelphia Consolidated Holding Corp., the undersigned, in accordance with
Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, hereby consents
that the reports of examinations of the undersigned, made by Federal or State
authorities authorized to make such examinations, may be furnished by such
authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.


                                             Very truly yours,

                                             THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO



                           BY: /s/ Steven M. Wagner
                               -----------------------------
                                    STEVEN M. WAGNER
                                    VICE PRESIDENT



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                                                                       EXHIBIT 7


                                                                          
Legal Title of Bank:                The First National Bank of Chicago          Call Date: 12/31/97  ST-BK:  17-1630 FFIEC 031
Address:                            One First National Plaza, Ste 0303                                Page RC-1
City, State  Zip:                   Chicago, IL  60670
FDIC Certificate No.:               0/3/6/1/8


Consolidated Report of Condition for Insured Commercial
and State-Chartered Savings Banks for December 31,1997

All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars. Unless otherwise
indicated, report the amount outstanding as of the last business day of the
quarter.

Schedule RC--Balance Sheet




                                                                            Dollar Amounts in                       C400    
                                                                               Thousands              RCFD    BIL MIL THOU
                                                                               ---------              ----    ------------

                                                                                                                 
ASSETS
1.  Cash and balances due from depository institutions (from Schedule 
    RC-A):
    a. Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin(1)..............                            0081      4,267,336      1.a.
    b. Interest-bearing balances(2).......................................                            0071      6,893,837      1.b.
2.  Securities
    a. Held-to-maturity securities(from Schedule RC-B, column A)..........                            1754             0       2.a.
    b. Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RC-B, column D).......                            1773      5,691,722      2.b.
3. Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to
    resell                                                                                            1350      6,339,940      3.
4.  Loans and lease financing receivables:
    a. Loans and leases, net of unearned income (from Schedule
    RC-C).................................................................   RCFD 2122 25,202,984                              4.a.
    b. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses..........................   RCFD 3123    419,121                              4.b.
    c. LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve..............................   RCFD 3128          0                              4.c.
    d. Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and
       reserve (item 4.a minus 4.b and 4.c)...............................                            2125      24,783,863     4.d.
5.  Trading assets (from Schedule RD-D)...................................                            3545       6,703,332     5.
6.  Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)..............                            2145         743,426     6.
7.  Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M)..........................                            2150           7,727     7.
8.  Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated
    companies (from Schedule RC-M)........................................                            2130         134,959     8.
9.  Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding..........                            2155         644,340     9.
10. Intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M)................................                            2143         268,501    10.
11. Other assets (from Schedule RC-F).....................................                            2160       2,004,432    11.
12. Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11)..............................                            2170      58,483,415    12.




(1) Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits. 
(2) Includes time certificates of deposit not held for trading.



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Legal Title of Bank:                The First National Bank of Chicago          Call Date:  09/30/97 ST-BK:  17-1630 FFIEC 031
Address:                            One First National Plaza, Ste 0303                                          Page RC-2
City, State  Zip:                           Chicago, IL  60670
FDIC Certificate No.:                       0/3/6/1/8


Schedule RC-Continued



                                                                       Dollar Amounts in                                       
                                                                           Thousands                         Bil Mil Thou   
                                                                           ---------                         ------------   
                                                                                                                 
LIABILITIES                                                                                                                 
13.      Deposits:                                                                                                          
    a. In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns A and C                                                                
       from Schedule RC-E, part 1)............................                                   RCON 2200    21,756,846     13.a
       (1) Noninterest-bearing(1).............................           RCON 6631  9,197,227                                13.a.1
       (2) Interest-bearing...................................           RCON 6636  559,619                                  13.a.2
    b. In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and                                                             
       IBFs (from Schedule RC-E, part II).....................                                   RCFN 2200    14,811,410     13.b.
       (1) Noninterest bearing................................           RCFN 6631    332,801                                13.b.1
       (2) Interest-bearing...................................           RCFN 6636 14,478,609                                13.b.2
14.      Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements                                                       
         to repurchase:                                                                          RCFD 2800     4,535,422     14
15. a. Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury                                                  RCON 2840        43,763     15.a
    b. Trading Liabilities(from Schedule RC-D).........................                          RCFD 3548     6,523,239     15.b
16.      Other borrowed money:                                                                                              
    a. With a remaining  maturity of one year or less.................                           RCFD 2332     1,360,165     16.a
    b. With a remaining  maturity of than one year through three years.                                A547      576,492     16.b
 .   c.  With a remaining maturity of more than three years ............                                A548      703,981     16.c
17.      Not applicable                                                                                                     
18.      Bank's liability on acceptance executed and outstanding......                           RCFD 2920       644,341     18
19.      Subordinated notes and debentures (2).........................                          RCFD 3200     1,700,000     19
20.      Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G)........................                          RCFD 2930     1,322,077     20
21.      Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20)................                          RCFD 2948    53,987,736     21
22.      Not applicable                                                                                                     
EQUITY CAPITAL                                                                                                              
23.      Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus.................                          RCFD 3838             0     23
24.      Common stock.........................................                                   RCFD 3230       200,858     24
25.      Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)......                          RCFD 3839     2,999,001     25
26. a. Undivided profits and capital reserves..........................                          RCFD 3632     1,273,239     26.a.
    b. Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale                                                          
       securities.............................................                                   RCFD 8434        24,096     26.b.
27.      Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments...........                          RCFD 3284        (1,515)    27
28.      Total equity capital (sum of items 23 through 27).............                          RCFD 3210     4,495,679     28
29.      Total liabilities and equity capital (sum of items 21 and 28).                          RCFD 3300    58,483,415     29


Memorandum

                                                                                                                      
To be reported only with the March Report of Condition.
1.  Indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement below that best describes the  most
    comprehensive level of auditing work performed for the bank by independent external                              Number
    auditors as of any date during 1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..     RCFD 6724      N/A.   M.1


1 =  Independent audit of the bank conducted in accordance with generally
     accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm which
     submits a report on the bank

2 =  Independent audit of the bank's parent holding company conducted in
     accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified
     public accounting firm which submits a report on the consolidated
     holding company (but not on the bank separately)

3 =  Directors' examination of the bank conducted in accordance with
     generally accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting
     firm (may be required by state chartering authority)

4 =  Directors' examination of the bank performed by other external auditors
     (may be required by state chartering authority)

5 =  Review of the bank's financial statements by external auditors

6 =  Compilation of the bank's financial statements by external auditors

7 =  Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work)

8 =  No external audit work                                      

- ------------
(1)  Includes total demand deposits and noninterest-bearing time and savings
     deposits.

(2)  Includes limited-life preferred stock and related surplus.

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