St. Augustine

History of St. Augustine Church

Founded in 1796 by Irish Augustinians Fr. Matthew J. Carr and Fr. John Rosseter, O.S.A., to serve German and Irish immigrants in northern Philadelphia, St. Augustine's was the first permanent foundation of the Augustinian Order in the United States. The original church, designed by Nicholas Fitzmaurice Fagan and completed in 1801, was the largest in the city. Notable early contributors included President George Washington, Commodore John Barry and merchant Stephen Girard. Fr. Carr also established St. Augustine Academy (1811), forerunner of Villanova University.

• 1796 — parish founded; cornerstone laid on N. 4th Street
• 1801 — original church completed (architect Nicholas Fitzmaurice Fagan)
• 1811 — St. Augustine Academy founded at 247 Vine Street
• 1829 — bell tower added by William Strickland
• 1838 — parish reaches 3,000 parishioners
• May 8, 1844 — church and 3,000-volume library destroyed in Nativist Riots
• May 27, 1847 — groundbreaking for the present church (architect Napoleon LeBrun)
• 1922 — vestibule altered during Benjamin Franklin Bridge construction

The 1844 Nativist Riots & First Amendment Legacy

After three days of anti-Catholic rioting inflamed by the Know-Nothing press, the original St. Augustine church, rectory and one of the finest theological libraries in the country (3,000 volumes) were burned on May 8, 1844. The Augustinians sued the city of Philadelphia — one of the earliest tests of religious freedom under the First Amendment — and the damages awarded funded the rebuilding of the present church. The case is cited as affirming William Penn's 1701 Charter of Privileges, and the protection failure led directly to the creation of the Philadelphia Police Department.

Architecture, Frescoes & Art

The present church was completed in 1847 to a design by Napoleon LeBrun, also the architect of Philadelphia's Academy of Music and the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul. The red-brick bell tower (1829) was the work of William Strickland, who designed the similar tower at Independence Hall. The most celebrated artistic feature is the ceiling painted in the mid-1800s by Nicola Monachesi — the oldest frescoes of any church in the United States, a discovery confirmed through research by local historian Celeste Morello. The walls are decorated with eight large paintings depicting the life of St. Augustine.

• Architect (1847 building): Napoleon LeBrun
• Tower architect (1829): William Strickland
• Fresco artist: Nicola Monachesi (mid-1800s) — oldest in any U.S. church
• Eight large paintings of the life of St. Augustine

Augustinian Friars in Residence

St. Augustine's has been served continuously by Augustinian Friars since 1796. The resident community lives under the Rule of St. Augustine — sharing morning and evening prayer each day, weekly scripture reflection, monthly celebration of the Eucharist together, and monthly social evenings and House Chapters. The Friary also gathers for two Days of Recollection each year and individual annual retreats. As Religious, the friars profess the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, seeking to be "of one mind and heart intent upon God."

• Rev. Christopher J. Drennen, O.S.A. — Parochial Administrator
• Rev. James D. Paradis, O.S.A. — Prior, in residence
• Rev. Paul F. Morrissey, O.S.A. — in residence
• Rev. James R. Keating, O.S.A. — in residence

Filipino Community & Santo Niño de Cebú

St. Augustine is the parish of choice for many Filipino-Americans in the Philadelphia area and serves as the National Shrine for devotion to Señor Santo Niño de Cebú in North America. Devotion to Santo Niño was brought to the Philippines by Augustinian missionaries in 1535. A statue was installed at St. Augustine on January 11, 1992, and in July 1994 the Augustinians in the Philippines commissioned an official replica of the original image to be permanently enshrined here — symbolizing the unity of faith between Augustinians in the Philippines and in the United States. Novena prayers to Santo Niño are prayed after the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass each week.

• Fiat Prayer Group
• Sunday Novena to Santo Niño after 11:00 AM Mass
• Annual Summer Sinulog — third Sunday of August (includes Mass, procession through Old City, and celebration of the feast near Aug. 28)
• Summer Sinulog (third Sunday of August) chosen over January because of cold-weather logistics

Music & Liturgy

The parish is renowned for both its musical program and its preaching. Kim Barroso serves as Music Director, coordinating music for liturgies, directing the choirs and accompanying services. The parish has a long-standing musical tradition — parish musicians in 1900 helped give rise to what became the Philadelphia Orchestra. Music Director Kim Barroso is also active with local opera companies, and the choirs are central to the parish's reputation for liturgy.

Parish Staff & Councils

Bro. Jacob A. Marquart III, O.F.S. (Brother Tarcisius of the Blessed Sacrament), serves as Director of Parish Services — overseeing administration, scheduling, the Safe Environment Program, web development and parish operations. A permanently professed member of the Secular Franciscan Order, he is a graduate of the Church Ministry Institute at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. Kim Barroso serves as Music Director. Both serve as Ex-Officio members on parish councils.

• Bro. Jacob A. Marquart III, O.F.S. — Director of Parish Services
• Kim Barroso — Music Director

Outreach & Community Services

Beyond its liturgical life, St. Augustine Church serves as an important anchor of service in Old City, hosting a number of social-service partners within its buildings. As noted by the Archdiocese, the parish provides space and support for women in need, veterans, and recovery communities, in addition to its regular liturgical and devotional life.

• Women of Hope — assisted-living facility for women in need (located at 251 N. Lawrence St.)
• Veterans Multi-Service Center — Women Programs
• Weekly 12-step programs hosted in parish facilities

Visit, Directions & Accessibility

St. Augustine is located just blocks from the Liberty Bell in Old City Philadelphia. The parish office is open 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday; the office entrance is on Marginal Road on the south (bridge) side of the church. The church is air-conditioned, wheelchair accessible via a ramp on the north side, and has an accessible meeting room and restroom. Visitors are welcome to come see the historic church between 7:00 AM and 1:00 PM Monday through Friday. Parking is limited; city-issued permits allow street parking on N. 4th Street, N. Lawrence Street and Vine Street during designated Mass and event times.

• GPS address: 250 N. 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
• From I-95 — take Callowhill Street exit, turn left onto 4th Street
• From the Benjamin Franklin Bridge — take 5th Street exit, sharp right onto Marginal Road
• Accessible entrance on north side of church
• Accessible restroom and meeting room

Filming & Cultural Footprint

The historic interior and exterior of St. Augustine Church have been featured in several major films, including The Sixth Sense, Shooter, and the 2019 action thriller 21 Bridges (filmed September 2018). The parish is also a destination for those interested in early American Catholic history and Augustinian heritage.