Preserving Church and Community in Reading , Pennsylvania
By Emily Smedley and Heidi Williamson
Berks County , Pennsylvania , contains a mix of small towns , the bustling city of Reading , forests and agricultural land , and a diverse population of residents . It is home to hundreds of churches in both the urban and rural areas , many built in the 1700s and 1800s . Most of the original congregations were Protestant , many of them Lutheran , established by families with German heritage . In Reading , a nine-square-mile city , the number of places that were built for worship grew from about 15 in 1845 to 117 in 1960 .
Not only do these sacred places provide gathering points for worship , but they add to the architectural richness of the city , support robust social welfare programs , and provide voting locations central to American democracy . The buildings have served as vital cultural vehicles that helped knit the fabric of Reading ’ s heritage for generations .
But these sacred places , like many others across America , are at risk .
St . Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Reading , PA .
16 SACRED PLACES • SUMMER 2024