Sacred Places Fall 2016 | Page 12

CASE STUDY Magnet Effect: Historic St. George’s United Methodist Church Old St. George’s United Methodist Church, located in the Old City neighborhood of Philadelphia, is home to both an active congregation and museum. The church, itself a historic landmark, is surrounded by heavily visited sites such as Independence Hall, Elfreth’s Alley, and the Betsy Ross House. Because St. George’s boasts a history that is on par with these sites—it is a “mother church” in the denomination—it attracts several thousand visitors a year who spend tens of thousands of dollars locally. It attracts a diverse group of event attendees, museumgoers, and researchers. In an average year, St. George’s United Methodist Church hosts roughly 1,000 wedding guests, 900 museumgoers/researchers, and 500 arts patrons from outside the city. These visitors spend locally at restaurants such as DiNardo’s Famous Crabs, Radicchio Café, Kisso Sushi Bar, Campo’s Deli, and Sassafras Market as well as on souvenirs at the local boutiques and gift shops. Many stay overnight in Center City hotels. In fact, the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau found that on average, a day visitor to the Philadelphia region spends $49.50 a day while an overnight visitor spends $214.67 a day. This means that on average, St. George’s United Methodist Church catalyzes over $60,000 in visitor spending a year. This does not include spending by congregants or those who meet there regularly. St. George’s United Methodist Church is atypical in that it maintains a museum and archives in one of the most vibrant sections of Philadelphia; but it is typical of congregations in that it hosts a spectrum of activities that catalyze visitor spending and strengthen local economies. Visiting children search the museum and archives at Old St. George’s United Methodist Church, the oldest continually occupied Methodist church in the country. Courtesy of Old St. George’s United Methodist Church. 12