Old St. Joseph's Church & National Shrine

Old St. Joseph's Church founded in 1733 is the oldest Roman Catholic church in Philadelphia.

To get to Old St. Joseph's Church one walks down tiny Willings Alley and passes under a narrow arch with iron gates. The archway occasioned Agnes Repplier's description of Old St. Joseph's as, "a church as carefully hidden away as a martyr's tomb in the catacombs." The archway opens onto a sunny courtyard that puts one in mind of Rome. On the north wall is a commemorative plaque that pays tribute to William Penn, who in his Charter of 1701 granted religious toleration and understanding in his colony. the plaque reads:

When in 1733 / St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church / was founded and / Dedicated to the Guardian of the Holy Family / it was the only place / in the entire English speaking world / where public celebration of / the Holy sacrifice of the Mass / was permitted by law.

The first church was built on this site in 1733, enlarged in 1821 and rebuilt in 1838. During a period of church-burning during the Anti-Catholic Riots of 1844, this church emerged unharmed. Several "City of Brotherly Love" churches were burned in this period by residents fearful of Papal influence and afraid of an influx of Irish into Philadelphia.

Inside the church there is a particularly impressive painting of the Crucifixion behind the main altar. There is also a graceful curving balcony — something rarely found in a Catholic church.

Lafayette and the Comte de Rochambeau worshiped here.
Years after his visit to Philadelphia, Rudyard Kipling fondly remembered Willings Alley, the site of this church, in a letter written to a Philadelphia pen pal.
The last four digits of their phone number is the year the church was originally built.
Location: 321 Willings Alley (between 3rd and 4th Streets, between Locust and Walnut Streets) (Map)
Originally built: 1733
Present church built: 1838
Tourism information: Tours by appointment. Open for Mass daily. 215-923-1733
Facilities: Courtyard
Official website: www.oldstjoseph.org