St. Augustine Church (Philadelphia) facts for kids

St. Augustine's Catholic Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
St. Augustine Church in Philadelphia in 1974
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Location	4th and New Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Area	2 acres (0.81 ha)
Built	1847 (1847)
Architect	Napoleon LeBrun
Architectural style	Palladian
NRHP reference No.	76001670
Quick facts for kids Significant dates
Added to NRHP	June 15, 1976

St. Augustine Catholic Church, also known as Olde St. Augustine's, is a historic Catholic church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It was officially opened in 1848. The church was designed by Napoleon LeBrun in a style called Palladian, which is a classic and balanced design. This church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, meaning it's an important historical site.

The church was built to replace an older St. Augustine Church from 1801. The first Augustinian church in the U.S., the original building once held the "Sister Bell," a bell connected to the famous Liberty Bell. Sadly, the first church was burned down during the Philadelphia Nativist Riots on May 8, 1844. The church later sued the city of Philadelphia for not protecting it well enough. The money they received helped build the current church, which started construction on May 27, 1847. Groups started by the church also helped create important institutions like Villanova University and the Philadelphia Orchestra.

History of St. Augustine's Church

The First Church Building

An 1844 drawing showing St. Augustine Church on fire

The church steeple in 2013

In the late 1700s, Fathers Matthew Carr and John Rosseter were sent to Philadelphia by the Catholic Church. Their mission was to buy land and build a church. Construction for St. Augustine's Church began in 1796. It was designed by Philadelphia architect Nicholas FitzMaurice Fagan. This was the very first church in the United States for the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine.

Building the church took longer than expected. There were delays because of yellow fever outbreaks among the workers. Also, they had trouble getting enough money. Finally, the church was finished in 1801. Many people helped pay for it, including President George Washington, John Barry, and Stephen Girard. The largest single gift was $200 from a merchant named John Leamy.

In 1811, the St. Augustine Academy was started. This was a school for boys and it had the biggest library of religious books in the city. The beginnings of Villanova University can be traced back to this academy. The church also became a lively place for music in Philadelphia. In 1820, a special music event was held to raise money for the church. It attracted musicians from all over the United States.

In 1829, a cupola (a small dome) and a tower were added to the church. The "Sister Bell" was placed in this new tower. This bell had been made to replace the cracked Liberty Bell and was loaned to the church by Independence Hall.

By the 1840s, many Irish Catholic immigrants were moving to Philadelphia. About half of the church's members in 1838 were born in Ireland. Only a small part were born in the United States. This growth in immigrant and Catholic populations led to rising tensions. Some groups in Philadelphia, called nativists, were against immigrants and Catholics. Rumors spread that Catholics wanted to ban the Bible from public schools. This led to the Nativist Riots of 1844.

Violence started on May 6 in the Kensington District. On May 8, a large crowd gathered in front of St. Augustine's Church. City troops were nearby, and Mayor John Morin Scott asked the rioters to calm down. But despite his pleas, the mayor was hit with rocks, and the church was set on fire. The church was completely destroyed, and the crowd cheered when the cupola fell. The St. Augustine Academy, including many rare books, was also destroyed.

The Current Church Building

For three months after the old church was destroyed, the people of St. Augustine's used Old St. Joseph's Church. Then, a new temporary church, called the chapel of Our Lady of Consolation, was built. It was dedicated on October 27, 1844. This chapel was later taken down in 1871 to make room for new parish schools.

The friars of St. Augustine sued the city of Philadelphia. They said the city did not protect the church enough during the riots. They asked for $80,000 in damages. The city argued that the Augustinian Order was a foreign group under the Pope. They also said the friars had taken a vow of poverty and could not own property. However, the Augustinians proved their order was officially recognized in the U.S. in 1804. They were then awarded $45,000.

The first stone of the new church was laid on May 27, 1847. The church was finished in December 1848. Bishop Francis Kenrick officially dedicated the church. Archbishop John Hughes led a special service on November 5, 1848. The church continued to be a hub for music. Henry Gordon Thunder, Sr. oversaw the building of the church's organ. He was the organist there from at least 1852 until his death in 1881. His son, Henry Gordon Thunder, Jr., took over. Henry Gordon Thunder, Jr. started the Choral Society of Philadelphia. This group, along with other musicians from the church, helped create the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1900. The first performance of George Frideric Handel's famous work, Messiah, in Philadelphia was held at this church.

On June 15, 1976, St. Augustine's Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. By 1988, the number of people attending St. Augustine's had become very small. But in the 1990s, the church's community grew again. Many Filipino Catholics from Philadelphia and nearby areas joined. In December 1992, an exact copy of Santo Niño de Cebú was dedicated. Since then, Filipinos have held special masses and festivals for Santo Niño.

Also in December 1992, a big storm badly damaged the church's steeple. Pieces of the steeple fell onto the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, which had to be closed for three days. The damaged steeple had to be taken apart and removed. Water also leaked through the damaged roof, harming the church and its art inside. A new steeple was put up on October 18, 1995. The restoration of the steeple was recorded by Brawer & Hauptman, Architects. It was built by Campbellsville Industries, known as "The Steeple People."

St. Augustine's has also appeared in movies. It was featured in the 1999 thriller The Sixth Sense and the 2007 action movie Shooter. In 2019, the church was seen in the film 21 Bridges.

Church Architecture and Design

The first St. Augustine Church was designed by Nicholas FitzMaurice Fagan. His father-in-law, John Walsh, who was a lumber merchant, provided most of the wood for the church. This first church was built in a Roman Style. It was about twenty-five feet long and sixty-two feet wide. Inside, it had a life-sized statue of the Crucifixion from 1810, made by sculptor William Rush. The tower and cupola added in 1829 were designed by William Strickland. He also designed other famous Philadelphia buildings like the Merchant's Exchange and the Second Bank of the United States.

The current church was designed by architect Napoleon LeBrun. He also designed the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. The church is a great example of Palladian architecture. This style is known for its balance and classic look, often inspired by ancient Roman temples.

The main altar is made of white marble. It has tall, thin columns of Mexican onyx around the tabernacle, which is a special place where the Eucharist is kept. An archway supported by Corinthian columns frames the altar. Above the altar, there is a domed skylight that lets in natural light. Throughout the church, there are beautiful stained-glass windows, each dedicated to a different saint. These windows also fill the church with colorful light.

Art and Frescoes Inside the Church

In 1848, an Italian artist named Nicola Monachesi (1795–1851) created a series of frescoes at St. Augustine Church. Frescoes are paintings done directly on wet plaster. These are thought to be the oldest church frescoes still existing in the United States. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission officially recognized these frescoes. A historical marker was placed outside the church to celebrate them.

One of these important works is St. Augustine in His Glory. This painting shows Saint Augustine rising towards a divine light, which represents the Trinity. Angels surround him in this heavenly scene. These frescoes by Monachesi were rediscovered during restoration work in the 1990s. They were then added to the Philadelphia Historical Commission’s Register of Historic Places.

Images for kids

• 

  Interior, in 2014

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  St. Augustine in His Glory— a celestial fresco by Nicola Monachesi, installed on ceiling painted in 1848 and rediscovered during restoration in the 1990s. Photographed in 2014.

Education

St. Mary Interparochial Grade School is the official grade school for children connected to St. Augustine's.

See also

• Archdiocese of Philadelphia
• List of churches in Philadelphia