Floating Church of the Redeemer

Floating Church of the Redeemer

FloatingCh
Moored off Dock Street from 1847-1851.
This mobile house of worship was built in Bordentown NJ in 1847, and towed to Philadelphia’s bustling Dock Street wharf. Believed to be the first floating church on the East Coast (predating a similar church in New York by three years), The Floating Church of the Redeemer was a project of the Churchman’s Missionary Association for Seamen, an arm of the Episcopal Church, and was devoted to serving sailors.

The church left Philadelphia in 1851, when its pier was leased for more worldly purposes. Towed to Camden, it was hauled ashore and dragged on rollers to the corner of Broadway and Rayden Streets where it served a small congregation under the name St. John’s. The land-locked river-church was consumed by fire on Christmas morning several years later.

Sources:
Jackson, Joseph. The Encyclopedia of Philadelphia, 1931
Smith, Phillip Chadwick Foster. Philadelphia on the River, 1986


Events

July 4th 11:00 am

Architectural Walking Tour: Littlest Streets Filter Square MORE

July 4th 3:00 pm

Architectural Walking Tour: Beaux Arts Philadelphia MORE

July 5th 3:00 pm

Architectural Walking Tour: Society Hill Stroll MORE

July 6th 10:00 am

University City District Summer Jobs Program Kicks Off 4th Season MORE

July 7th 7:30 pm

ARE Study Session MORE

July 8th 9:00 am

ZCC Meeting MORE

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