Queen Village Buddhist Temple

Photo: PlanPhilly

Plan Philly reported last month on the restoration of the Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church at 1001 S. 4th street.  PlanPhilly writer Alan Jeffe details the path to new ownership:

After World War II, the German-language services were switched to English, and the congregation dwindled as families moved to other parts of the city. Michael Schreiber, a member of the historic preservation committee of the Queen Village Neighbors Association, said the remaining congregation moved into the church basement but retained a deep commitment to the neighborhood. Social service and community groups used the building, and it served as a center for visiting sailors from around the world.

In the early 1960s, a $90,000 restoration included rebuilding the nave and chancel and repainting the interior and exterior of the beautiful wood clock tower. A renovated 1840 organ was installed, and the original clock was repaired.

The congregation continued to diminish, however, and two years ago they abandoned the church.The Berlin clock was removed, leaving holes in the tower. The building deteriorated and windows were vandalized, Schreiber said.

The Philadelphia Historical Commission stepped in last January, filing a petition in the Court of Common Pleas asking that it order the Lutheran Synod and the congregation to repair the masonry and roofing and seal the holes left by the clock. An inspection by the Department of Licenses & Inspection found the main floor of the church had been taken up and that the building was unsafe.

“Both the Synod and the congregation took it upon themselves to solve the problems and they were very cooperative,” said Jonathan Farnham, executive director of the Historical Commission. The commission suggested that the congregation seek a new owner for the building. “We were surprised to learn that within a month or so, they said they found a Buddhist group interested in purchasing the church.”

With financing impossible for a building in this condition, the former owners of the church are allowing extra time to pay it off and many of the new congregation are volunteering time and skills for the renovations.  Below is a picture of a newly completed first floor room, and picture of the floor which had been removed.