From Sanctuary to Struggle: The Story of 19th Street Baptist Church in Philadelphia, PA

Early Foundations: Memorial Church of the Holy Comforter
The story of 19th Street Baptist Church begins in the mid-19th century, when a vibrant and growing neighborhood in Point Breeze, Philadelphia, sought spiritual guidance. In 1868, the Lewis family, members of St. Peter’s Church in Old City, founded the Memorial Church of the Holy Comforter as a mission to serve working-class communities in Southwest Philadelphia. The church was designed by the renowned architectural firm of Furness & Hewitt, known for its distinctive, asymmetrical style. Located at the corner of 19th and Titan Streets, the church was a symbol of hope and community, built with green serpentine stone, a design that would later become one of its most iconic and challenging features.

The Memorial Church of the Holy Comforter was completed in 1874, during a time of immense growth in Philadelphia, especially in the Point Breeze and Gray’s Ferry areas. Immigrant communities, particularly Irish and Scottish, were flocking to the area for work, and Holy Comforter served as both a spiritual and socio-economic beacon. The church’s cornerstone was laid in a grand ceremony, with a time capsule containing a Bible, coins, and local newspapers. The church’s design, with its corner tower and serpentine stone façade, stood out as a striking landmark in the rapidly developing area.

A New Era: Transition to 19th Street Baptist Church
By the early 20th century, the congregation of Memorial Church of the Holy Comforter had dwindled, and by 1944, the church was sold to 19th Street Baptist Church. This marked the beginning of a new chapter. The church, once home to affluent Episcopalians, now became a spiritual center for African Americans, many of whom were part of the Great Migration. Under the stewardship of 19th Street Baptist, the church thrived, with vibrant services, a renowned choir, and visits from prominent figures such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Reverend Jesse Jackson.

The church became more than just a place of worship—it was a sanctuary in an era of segregation and racial injustice. Reverend Wilbur D. Winborne, Sr., the current pastor, reflects on this significance: “When you’re going back out into the community, the church is your oasis,” he says, emphasizing the role of the Black church in fostering a sense of identity and empowerment.

Deterioration and Struggles
Despite its cultural and historical importance, the church’s physical condition began to deteriorate over time. The 1980s saw significant damage to the building, including crumbling serpentine stonework and the removal of the original spire for safety reasons. Legal battles over financial support, including disputes with St. Peter’s Church over a potentially hidden endowment, further strained the church’s ability to maintain the building. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, 19th Street Baptist Church sued St. Peter’s over the missing funds, alleging that a financial trust set up for the church’s upkeep had been improperly handled. However, these legal challenges were unsuccessful, and the church continued to face financial difficulties.

In the 2010s, the church building was officially deemed unsafe by the City of Philadelphia. Preservation efforts, including emergency repairs funded by local preservationists, provided some temporary relief, but the building continued to decline. By 2015, the church had moved its services from the main sanctuary to a smaller fellowship hall due to safety concerns.

The Final Struggle: Demolition Looms
As the years passed, the church’s condition worsened. In recent years, the church has faced mounting pressure from lenders and the City of Philadelphia, which has placed the building on an “imminently dangerous” list. Despite attempts to secure funding for repairs and save the building, including proposals to sell the building to a preservation-minded buyer, the church has been unable to overcome financial and legal hurdles. The debt owed to PNL Companies, a Dallas-based firm that took over the church’s loan in the 2010s, has only added to the challenges. In 2018, the building was placed under a demolition order, with the City warning that the church’s sanctuary could be torn down imminently.

Pastor Winborne and others associated with the church have continued to seek a way to save at least part of the building, focusing efforts on the fellowship hall, which is in better condition than the main sanctuary. However, as of late 2024, the future of 19th Street Baptist Church is uncertain. The church’s leadership has expressed frustration over the lack of resources and support, especially given the historical and cultural significance of the building.