Philadelphia: Past and Present

Philadelphia: Past and Present

For this particular project we were asked to find ten archive photos of Philadelphia that were at least sixty years old and take ten new photos to show the change and affects of time. While searching through the archives I decided to focus on churches. I have spent a lot of time walking through Old City and love looking at the old graves and churches within the neighborhood because of how historic those places are. Because I was already familiar with how old some of Philadelphia's churches are, this led to be my inspiration. While shooting the project I realized that while many things have been preserved in Philadelphia, not all of my churches were as lucky. One did not exist, a couple steeples are no longer even though the church is holding up, and one church house has been turned into a law firm. I hope you enjoy my old and new view of these 10 churches and if you wish to visit them, just follow the map!


1. Zion Lutheran Church
4th and Cherry Streets







The photo to the left was taken in 1868 by an unknown photographer. The original church was located at 4th and Cherry Streets but the newly renovated church now resides at 4th and Arch Streets.

2. First Independent Presbyterian Church (Chamber's Church)
Broad and Sansom Streets








The photo on the left was taken in 1856 by McClees and Germon. Since the original photo, the church has been taken down and replaced with what you see to the right; a bank, some stores and restaurants. The new photos show what every corner at Broad and Sansom Streets looks like today.




















3. Episcopal Church House
1125 Walnut St. (12th and Walnut Streets)









The original photo on the left was taken in 1922 by Frank H. Taylor. The new photo looks almost identical, but is now home to a law firm.

4. St. Mark's Church
16th and Locust Streets










The photo on the left was taken in 1868 by an unknown photographer.

5. Masonic Temple
Broad and Filbert Streets (Northeast corner)














The original photo was taken in 1902 by an unknown photographer. While the shot is similar, the new photo was shot looking up as opposed to looking down like the original.

6. St. Clement's Church
20th and Appletree Streets







The original photo on the left was taken in 1865 by an unknown photographer. While much of the church has not changed, the steeple is sadly no more.

7. Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul
18th and Race Streets (18th at Logan Square)



The original photo on the left was taken in 1902 by an unknown photographer. The cathedral seems not to have changed and still to this day houses some of the most well known police funerals in Philadelphia to date.




8. St. Peter's Church
3rd and Pine Streets



The original photo was taken in 1870 by William Herman. The church seems like it has not changed a bit, unfortunately I could not obtain a higher camera angle.






9. Presbyterian Church
4th and Pine Streets



The original photo was taken in 1868 by an unknown photographer.









10. Gloria Dei Old Swede's Church
Swanson St. near Christian St.

The original photo was taken in 1854 by Richards and Betts.









All of the archive photos can be found at: http://libwww.library.phila.gov/hip/HIPLst.cfm?searchKey=0610164837


Google Map of Churches in Philadelphia:

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