Historic Baltimore Avenue Churches Promote Community Use

Historic Baltimore Avenue Churches Promote Community Use

The sacred places in our neighborhood stand out as landmarks on our blocks and along our avenues but too often we value them from afar. This year, six historic churches in West Philadelphia and their partners will premiere their “Baltimore Avenue Venue Menu” to encourage community use of their incredible spaces.

“We hope to remind Baltimore Avenue of its distinct architectural heritage and the communal assets [here],” said Brad Zinn of Vineyard Community Church, 4523 Springfield Avenue.

This coalition of churches received a $1,000 seed grant from the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia to fund the production and publication of the Baltimore Avenue Venue Menu—a brochure designed to demonstrate that the Avenue’s religious properties are open and available for public use. By drawing new people and neighbors into these historic assets, the coalition hopes to build a broader consensus for the preservation of the neighborhood’s community-serving sacred places. The Venue Menu will include a map of the houses of worship along Baltimore Avenue from 40th to 52nd and brief history of the churches and surrounding neighborhoods and will be distributed to neighborhood businesses, organizations, congregations, students, and residents during the fall.

The Baltimore Avenue Coalition includes The Calvary Center for Culture and Community, Hickman Temple, Kol-Tzedek Synagogue, Spruce Hill Christian Academy, St. Francis de Sales, Vineyard Community Church, West Philadelphia Mennonite Fellowship, Woodland Presbyterian Church, and Partners for Sacred Places, Cedar Park Neighbors and University City District.

For more information about the Baltimore Avenue Coalition or Partners for Sacred Places, contact Molly Lester at Partners for Sacred Places (215) 567-3234, ext. 18 or mlester@sacredplaces.org.