Launched in June, 2018, the initiative started by sponsoring a
“precedent exhibit” featuring examples of sacred places accom-
modating new, community-serving uses—from congregations
working with nonprofit organizations to reimagine historic,
purpose-built religious buildings (and adjacent landscapes), to
mission-relevant new construction. A total of twenty-five sites
were featured in the exhibit, on display at Philadelphia’s Center
for Architecture + Design.
Identifying assets at Wharton Wesley
United Methodist Church
The Philadelphia Masjid, a mosque nestled within a former
Roman Catholic school, is emblematic of the many worshipping
communities that have taken on large sacred places built by other
faith traditions. Wharton Wesley United Methodist Church, the
product of the strategic merger of a growing black congregation
and a declining white congregation, is a prototypical example of
mainline Protestant congregations stewarding challenging build-
ings, which are underutilized, difficult to negotiate, and not fully
accessible. Zion Baptist Church, which peaked at 6,000 members
under civil rights leader and social activist Reverend Leon H. Sul-
livan, is typical of a congregation that is struggling to build upon
the legacy of a larger-than-life figure who has passed on.
Since then, Partners for Sacred Places and Community De-
sign Collaborative have worked with the three teams to work out
and design a new program for their properties. Each of the faith
groups had ideas and preferences which were discussed and evalu-
ated by community stakeholders. Community leaders convened
at each site to identify physical and locational assets, and then
worked with faith leaders to suggest new links with outside or-
ganizations and programs that could lead to new initiatives that
make the highest and best use of each building.
The initiative recently convened client teams, expert jurors,
and key stakeholders to review and critique the designers' work
thus far, which built upon the asset-mapping events as well as ongo-
ing conversations with potential partners regarding potential col-
laborations and new programs. The project will culminate in a re-
port with findings and recommendations issued in 2019. To learn
more about this initiative and the participating congregations,
please visit sacredplacescivicspaces.com.
Remarkable stained glass and plaster work in the
sanctuary of Zion Baptist's Annex, now vacant
SACRED PLACES • AUTUMN/WINTER 2018-19
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