Religious Institutions
St. Philip’s Protestant Episcopal Church was the first African American Episcopal parish in New York City, New York. It was also one of the largest Christian congregations in the United States at one time.
The church originated from the meetings of a group of free African Americans and slaves who had been worshipping at the Trinity Church on Wall Street for nearly a century. They withdrew however in 1809 and renamed themselves the Free African Church of St. Philip. Nine years later in 1818 they laid the foundation for St. Philip’s Episcopal Church on Centre Street in Lower Manhattan. The wooden structure burned down in 1822 and was replaced by a stone building. The newer church would undergo two more reconstructions during its existence: first in 1834 when irate whites attempted to destroy the building and again in 1863 after New York City officials used the edifice as a militia barracks during draft riots. In 1886, the church relocated to 25th street.
St. Philips was once again rebuilt in 1910 in what is now its current location on 134th Street in Harlem.
The church originated from the meetings of a group of free African Americans and slaves who had been worshipping at the Trinity Church on Wall Street for nearly a century. They withdrew however in 1809 and renamed themselves the Free African Church of St. Philip. Nine years later in 1818 they laid the foundation for St. Philip’s Episcopal Church on Centre Street in Lower Manhattan. The wooden structure burned down in 1822 and was replaced by a stone building. The newer church would undergo two more reconstructions during its existence: first in 1834 when irate whites attempted to destroy the building and again in 1863 after New York City officials used the edifice as a militia barracks during draft riots. In 1886, the church relocated to 25th street.
St. Philips was once again rebuilt in 1910 in what is now its current location on 134th Street in Harlem.