Old St. Joseph's Church

Old St. Joseph's Church was the first Roman Catholic church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. founded in 1733.HistoryOld St. Joseph's Church was founded by Fr. Joseph Greaton, an English Jesuit who came to Philadelphia from Maryland in 1729 to establish a mission. He originally celebrated Mass in his house at 321 Willings Alley. Father Greaton built the first chapel in 1733, almost certainly a house-chapel attached to the residence of Father Greaton.The right of Catholics to worship in Pennsylvania at what was termed the "Romish Chapel" was challenged the following year by the Governor General of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly ultimately decided not to ban celebration of Mass and cited William Penn's Charter of Privileges as controlling, despite the English Penal Laws. No where else could Catholics enjoy public worship to the extent possible in 18th century Philadelphia.In 1757, the chapel was replaced by a larger church. Marquis de Lafayette and the Comte de Rochambeau, worshiped at St. Joseph. The American and French armies celebrated high mass at St. Joseph's after the victory at Yorktown.In 1793 a yellow fever epidemic swept the central area of Philadelphia, killing ten per cent of the population. Old St. Joseph's established an orphanage to care for some of the many children left without families due to the epidemic. The church became racially integrated in the 1790s when slaves fleeing a revolution in Santo Domingo settled in Philadelphia and some joined the church. St. Mary's Charity School educated these immigrants, ultimately leading to the establishment of St. Peter Claver School in Philadelphia later in the 19th Century.