The urgent need to preserve and adapt Philadelphia's historic religious buildings. Data via Partners for Sacred Places.

1. Data Provided by
Presented by Steve Baron
Editor, Urban Fabric - July 2020
"Let Religious Freedom Ring"
The Urgent Need to Preserve and Adapt
Philadelphia's Historic Religious Buildings
Gloria Dei (Old Swede's Church), built in 1700, is Pennsylvania's oldest church.
(Image via Visit Philly - https://www.visitphilly.com/things-to-do/attractions/gloria-dei-old-swedes-church/)

2. 1763
1804
1795
1785
1769
1768
1761
1761
1727
1700
1803
1789
© 2020 Mapbox © OpenStreetMap
Philadelphia's Early Religious Freedom (1700-1805)
Philadelphia was founded by William Penn in 1682
as a city for religious freedom.
The city's early development along the Delaware
River saw Protestant, Roman Catholic, and
German Catholic churches, and Jewish synagogues
-- all in close proximity to one another.
(Right) This map is based on current and recent
buildings and their historical affiliations -- but
does not fully capture the numerous and diverse
religious buildings in the 1700s.
Some buildings have changed affilations -- for
example: Anshe Emeth Synagogue was originally
the Second Baptist Church.
Historic Affiliation - Simple
German Catholic
Jewish
Protestant
Roman Catholic

3. © 2020 Mapbox © OpenStreetMap
Animation of Buildings by Faith and Year (1700-1981)
Philadelphia's early experiment in religious freedom continues, with neighborhoods of mixed faiths.
Year
1700
Show history
Historic Affiliation - Simple
Null
Christian Science
Eastern Orthodox
German Catholic
Jewish
LDS Mormon
Non-Denominational
Non-Religious
Protestant
Roman Catholic
Spiritualism
Unknown

4. Year
1707
1761
1768
1775
1795
1807
1815
1829
1833
1838
1841
1844
1848
1851
1854
1857
1860
1863
1866
1869
1872
1875
1878
1881
1884
1887
1890
1893
1896
1899
1902
1905
1908
1911
1914
1917
1922
1925
1928
1931
1935
1939
1942
1947
1951
1954
1958
1961
1964
1976
0
10
20
30
TotalProperties
Year: 1895
Total:32
Streetcar lines
open up new
neighborhoods
to immigrants.
Year: 1910
Total:33
Market-Frankford El opens in
1900s, further growing the city
Year: 1942
Total:25
Post-Great Depression,
new suburban-like
developments on the city's
edgde.
Historic Affiliation - Simple
Protestant
RomanCatholic
Jewish
Unknown
Non-Religious
EasternOrthodox
ChristianScience
Spiritualism
Non-Denominational
LDSMormon
GermanCatholic
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
TotalProperties
550
126
53 38
4 3 2 1 1 1 1
Religious Buildings Grow by Immigration and Transportation
© 2020 Mapbox © OpenStreetMap
Religious Building Location by Faith
Philadelphia saw waves of immigration of Irish Catholics, then Eastern and Southern
European Catholics and Jews. However, Philadelphia remains a largely Protestant city,
with about 70 percent of religious buildings hosting Protestant denominations. Three
peaks of new sites reflect changing population demographics and transportation
trends.

5. Year
1895 1910 1942
© 2020 Mapbox © OpenStreetMap
Three Peaks of Religious Building Construction: 1895, 1910, and 1942
Historic Affiliation - Simple
Jewish
Protestant
Roman Catholic
Spiritualism
Unknown
Transportation Innovations Grow New Neighborhoods
1895 - 32 New Religious Buildings - Streetcar lines open up neighborhoods beyond the waterfront and
Center City.
1910 - 33 New Religious Buildings - The Market-Frankord Elevated ("El") and subway-surface lines open
in the 1900s, bringing the population further outside of the city's core.
1942 - 25 New Religious Buildings - Suburban-like developments in the far reaches of the city spur new
religious building construction.

6. Ext Cond
4
0
3
5
2
8
7
1
0
100
200
300
400
500
TotalCount
450
185
67
18
3 1 1 1
Development Puts Pressure on Deteriorating Religious Buildings
University City (19104)
Ext Cond: 4, Total: 36
Pressure: Expansion from University of
Pennsylvania and Drexel University.
Gray's Ferry (19146)
Ext Cond: 4. Total: 30
Pressure: Gentrification forcing out African-Americans.
Queen Village and East Passyunk (19147)
Ext Cond: 4, Total: 21
Pressure: Young families in former Irish-American and Italian-American
neighborhoods.
Port Richmond and Kensington (19134)
Ext Cond: 4, Total: 21
Pressure: New houses by river, subway.
Frankford (19124)
Ext Cond: 4, Total: 21
Pressure: Further out on the river and
subway.
© 2020 Mapbox © OpenStreetMap
Hot Spots of At-Risk Buildings by ZIP Code, Exterior Condition
Total Count
1
50
100
150
200
Ext. Condition
Null
0
1
2
3
4
5
7
8
[Null]
However, as religious attendance has fallen, many buildings have deteriorated.
The city’s Office of Property Assessment ranks exterior condition on a scale of 0-8,
with 8 being in imminent danger.
More than half – 470 properties – are rated 4+, already in the tipping point for the
road to demolition.
Many at-risk buildings are in developing neighborhoods. Congregations face
pressure to sell their buildings to developers -- who often demolish.

7. FITZWATER STREET
METHODIST CHURCH?
(1855)
Demolition
SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST EPISCOPAL
CHURCH (1860)
Demolition
EBENEZER CHURCH (1851)
Demolished
CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY (1844)
Demolition
Greenwich Street Church (1866)
Demolition
SOUTHWESTERN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
(1861) - Demolition
CENTRAL UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
(1876)
Demolition
SAINT BONIFACE (BONIFASCIUS IN PAB?)
CHURCH (1872)
Demolition
CONGREGATION ANSHE EMETH; AA FENCING
(1803)
Demolition
SAINT PAUL'S BAPTIST CHURCH; CHRIST EVANGELICAL CHURCH (ORIGINAL) (1875)
Demolition
GETHSEMANE BAPTIST CHURCH (1875)
Demolition
© 2020 Mapbox © OpenStreetMap
Deteriorating Religious Buildings Are Left Vacant or Demolished
Exterior Condition
0
3
4
5
7
8
[Null]
Deteriorating exterior conditions could indicate declining attendance and funding -- and in turn lead to vacancy or demolition. While 680 religious buildings remain in religious
usage, 52 are vacant or demolished.
Many vacant or demolished buildings have had exterior ratings of 4+. Deterioration can rapidly lead to demolition.
Many vacant or demolished buildings have been 100+
years old.
As a UNESCO World Heritage City, Philadelphia should
preserve, not destroy, its historic urban fabric.
(Left) Eleven demolished religious buildings were 140+
years old.
Primary Use
Demolished
Demolition
Vacant

8. © Mapbox © OSM
Built Before 1850, Not Protected
Ext Cond
0
3
4
5
[Null]
© Mapbox © OSM
In Historic District, Not Individually Listed
Preserving the Remaining Most At-Risk Religious Buildings First
© Mapbox © OSM
National Register, Not Phila. Register
Historic Affiliation - Simple
Jewish
Protestant
Roman Catholic
Listing properties on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places generally protects them from demolition.
Owners have to demonstrate that the building is in imminent danger of collapse to demolish.
3 Metrics Can Identify the Most At-Risk Buildings:
1. Built before 1850, but not individually listed. (19 properties)
2. Located in a Philadelphia Historic District, but not individually listed.
(12 properties)
3. On the National Register of Historic Places, but not individually listed.
(6 properties) Prioritize Deteriorating
Buildings
Among these, the buildings with
exterior condition ratings of 4+
should be prioritized.

9. Primary Use
Arts/Culture
Mixed-Use
Office
Residential
School
Service
0
5
10
15
20
TotalCount
18
15
3
2
5
6
© 2020 Mapbox © OpenStreetMap
Historic Preservation Can Lead to Adaptive Reuse of Religious Buildings
What comes after historic preservation of religious buildings, if
not religious usage?
Organizations such as Partners for Sacred Places are pushing for
adaptive re-use.
Already, 49 former religious buildings have seen adaptive re-use.
and remain as neighborhood anchors.
Examples of new uses include housing, offices, mixed-use
developments, arts and culture venues, and service sites for
healthcare or seniors.
Primary Use
Arts/Culture
Mixed-Use
Office
Residential
School
Service
Primary Use
Arts/Culture
Mixed-Use
Office
Residential
School
Service
Primary Use
Null
Arts/Culture
Demolished
Demolition
Mixed-Use
Office
Religious
Residential
School
Service
Vacant

10. Thank you!
Further Reading:
Hildebrandt, Rachel. "Church Demolition By The Numbers: More Questions Than Answers."
Hidden City Philadelphia. 9 December 2016.
https://hiddencityphila.org/2016/12/church-demolition-by-the-numbers-more-questions-than-answers/
Lester, Molly. "Inventory of Historic Religious Properties in Philadelphia: An Assessment of Significant and At-Risk Houses of Worship."
The Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. August 2011.
http://preservationalliance.com/files/IHRPP_Lester.pdf
Partners for Sacred Places: About Us
https://sacredplaces.org/about-us/
The Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia: Historic Religious Properties
http://www.preservationalliance.com/what-we-do/historic-religious-properties/
Contact:
Steve Baron
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-baron-a6328713/
Editor, Urban Fabric
Philadelphia's Leading Livable Cities Blog
https://urbnfabric.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @urbnfabric (https://twitter.com/urbnfabric)
Instagram: @urbnfabric (https://www.instagram.com/urbnfabric/)