Once Upon a Time in Old City, Philadelphia

We've been here a long time. As the 4th oldest Roman Catholic Church in Philadelphia, we've been sharing the love of the Augustinian Friars in the City of Brotherly Love for over 225 years. We were in Philadelphia before the "LOVE" statue, before Rocky ran the Philadelphia Art Museum steps, and even before the Philadelphia Art Museum was founded for that matter. We've been in Old City Philadelphia longer than the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.

And yet, every year brings a renewal of our faith and our mission: to serve the people of Philadelphia (and its visitors!) and to be for them a place where the church of God gathers to pray as a community.

Just Visiting?

Stop by!

Welcome to our neighborhood! We would love to see you. Check out our Mass Times or our Events to see if something's going on you'd like to be a part of. We encourage you to stop by the church, which is open weekdays during daylight hours (Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and on Weekends the church is open from 9:00 AM to the conclusion of the evening Mass).

What you'll see inside

Our church features beautiful architecture, paintings, historic frescoes, sculptures, and stained glass windows, so feel free to give yourself a tour. Remember, the artisans who created these works (a couple hundred years ago) did so for an illiterate population. Our salvation history is written in the beautiful artwork that is all around our sanctuary. (If you need a cheat-sheet to the stories told, pick one up in the back of the church!)

What you'll see outside

There's lots to see and do in Old City Philadelphia, whether you're interested in shopping, great food, history, or art! If you're down for some shopping, we recommend getting started on 3rd Street between Race and Market. Hungry? There are great restaurants in our area, from cafes for a quick bite, to restaurants for an amazing BYOB dinner. And if you're on the trail of history, head up to 2nd Street and visit Christ's Church, visit Benjamin Franklin's grave site at the Christ Church cemetery, or tour the Philadelphia Mint, the Constitution Center, and Independence Hall. We also recommend the American Jewish Museum for beautifully curated exhibits on the history of our Jewish brothers and sisters here in America, which often parallels our own history.