History
of the Church |
Background
of the Church - History
An anchor in largely African-American North Philadelphia, the first Episcopal
Church in the world to ordain women, the George W. South Memorial Church
of the Advocate is a landmark in the religious, social and architectural history
of the United States. Built as a memorial to the merchant and civil leader
George W. South, the church was the centerpiece of a sprawling complex including
a chapel, parish house, curacy and rectory. Once intended to serve as the Episcopal
Cathedral of Philadelphia, The Church of the Advocate is one of the best American
examples of Gothic Revival style and the only major one of its period based
systematically on French sources.
No other church in America has been built in such a grand scale specifically
for the working class. Also, none offers such a comprehensive repertoire of
the Gothic Revival architecture: complete programs of lavish architectural
sculpture; stained glass windows by Clayton & Bell, one of the leading
English firms of the period; a full apparatus of flying buttresses and an orientation
to the true East. The church demonstrates the Ruskinian doctrine of involving
workmen in the design process, echoing the socially progressive programs that
are part of the Advocate’s history and in contrast to the industrial,
mechanized age in which it was created.
The Church’s Architect
The Church’s Architect, Charles Burns, is recognized as one of the most
prominent church architects in the late 19th and early 20th century. His work
includes over 50 churches some of which are the Church of the Savior, now the
Episcopal Cathedral of Philadelphia; Church of The Redeemer, Bryn Mawr; Christ
Church Cathedral, Salina, Kansas; and Calvary Church, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
and the Union League of Philadelphia’s prominent clubhouse in Center
City Philadelphia.
The
Church of the Advocate and the Civil Rights Movement
The socially-conscious goals of the Church of the Advocate’s founders,
who specified that the church should be “free for all time” (abolishing
the practice of pew rent) continue. The Advocate became a center of activism
for the Civil Rights Movement embracing the cause of African-American and women’s
rights. It was the site of several nationally significant events of these movements
including the National Conference of Black Power (1968), the Black Panther
Conference (1970) and the first ordination of women in the Episcopal Church
(1974).
An inspiring collection of large and vivid wall murals commissioned in the
1970's records the “stations” of the Civil Rights movement. As
in medieval churches, whose art served to illustrate and reinforce this liturgical
message, these murals draw on Old Testament verses to dramatically illuminate
parallels in African American history. Together, the medieval revival presentation
of the building and the modern murals document the critical social role played
by America’s inner city churches.
Reverend Paul Washington’s leadership allowed the church to support rights
rallies and protests and also developed what he came to call the Theology of
Black Power. He believed that God intended all people, regardless of their
race and color, to be vessels of divine power.
The interpretation of this history continues as the church is part of a tour
on the History of the Civil Rights Movement which is presented by the Greater
Philadelphia Tourism and Marketing Corporation as well as a stop on various
other tours through the year.
In addition to hosting these events, a collection of wall murals commissioned
by Reverend Washington records the “stations” of the Civil Rights
movement. These murals were created between 1973 and 1976 by Walter Edmonds
and Richard Watson, who to this day enjoy coming to explain to visitors the
story of their murals. These impressive and often contentious “art of
protest” murals were inspired by Bible passages; they compare the oppression
experienced by the Jewish people during their enslavement and captivity and
African American oppression and response to it in American history. The murals
are arranged in a traditional biblical cycle and culminate with the “I
Have A Dream” speech of Martin Luther King, Jr. One can find portrayed
in the murals a wide range of African American leaders and others who fought
for the freedoms of African Americans including Toussaint L’Overture,
Harriet Tubman, Booker T. Washington, Julian Bond, W.E. B. Dubois, Paul Robeson,
and Malcolm X. As in medieval churches, whose art served to illustrate and
reinforce the liturgical message, these modern murals address the contemporary
concerns of the church’s congregation and allow dialogue among the races
and socio-economic classes today.
The
Church and the History of Women
The Church played a key role in women’s and religious history as the
site of the “irregular” ordinations as priest of the first group
of 11 women in the Episcopal Church in 1974. Prior to the ceremony the parish
approved the following statement: “The goals of the Advocate have always
been to move towards one world, one people, and one love concept. We are not
afraid to take any step or measure that will make that concept a reality.” Within
two years the Episcopal Church officially authorized the ordination of women.
Kudos
for the Church of the Advocate's History
- National
Historic Landmark (1996)
This recognition is determined
by the United States Secretary of Interior for buildings that are nationally
significant in American history. The
Church of the Advocate shares this distinction with some of the nation's
most important historic properties including Mount Vernon, Pearl Harbor,
and the Martin Luther King Birthplace. National
Historic Landmark status is the most prestigious recognition that a
historic site can achieve in the United States.
- Save
America's Treasures Grant (2005)
The Church of the Advocate
was awarded a Save America's Treasures grant based on its historic
significance. This highly-competitive
prestigious award has provided $500,000 toward much needed repairs
to the exterior of the building.
- National
Register of Historic Places (1980)
This list is the nation's
official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects
worthy of preservation. The Church of the Advocate achieved this
status by meeting the four criteria required for the Register – contribution
to American history, association with significant people, distinctive
architecture and construction, and the ability to serve as an educational
site about history.
- Pennsylvania
Inventory of Historic Places (1979)
This is the highest recognition the state provides for historic sites.
- Philadelphia
Historic Commission – Philadelphia Register of Historic Places
(1980)
This is the highest recognition the city provides for historic
sites. The Church of the
Advocate is also considered a key site in the Diamond Street Historic
District.
- Landmark Building Award,
Philadelphia Chapter AIA (1985)
- King's Handbook of
Episcopalian Churches, a
register of the most prominent Episcopal building in the country,
listed the advocate when it was still being built in 1889.
Roger Moss in Historic Sacred Places of Philadelphia (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2005) wrote that "The Church of the Advocate is one of the principal monuments of the Gothic Revival in the United States, and the only major one of its period based systematically on French sources. It is loosely based on thirteenth-century French churches, particularly the small Gothic cathedrals marked with enormous rose windows. The Church of the Advocate is nothing less than a quadripartite, stone-vaulted French medieval Gothic church dropped in to a North Philadelphia neighborhood that is now physically and economically devastated."