St. Augustine Church

St. Augustine Church You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You. Located in Old City, Philadelphia, St. Founded by Father Matthew J. Today, St.
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Augustine Church is the oldest permanent establishment of the Augustinian Order in the United States. Carr in 1796, St. Augustine's has a rich and storied history, tied closely to the city in which it stands. Funds for the original church building were collected from the people of the parish as well as from some notable donors: President George Washington, Commodore John Barry, and merchant Stephe

n Girard. The first church building was designed by Douglas Fitzmaurice Fagan and served the rising population of German and Irish immigrants that were settling on the north side of the city. Carr also established St. Augustine Academy in 1811, the forerunner of Villanova University. In 1844, growing anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic sentiment in Philadelphia reached a breaking point. On May 8th, at the culmination of 3 days of riots instigated by the Native American Party, or the "Know Nothings," the original church building was burned. A substantial theological library of over 3,000 books was also lost in the fire. Suing for damages, St. Augustine Church's case was one of the first tests of the First Amendment right to freedom of religion. A new church was designed by Napoleon LeBrun, completed in 1847 and consecrated in 1848. Augustine's stands sentinel in Old City between Vine St. and the Ben Franklin Bridge. It serves a diverse and vibrant community of restless hearts seeking rest in God. All are welcome.

06/14/2026

05/24/2026

St. Augustine Church Philadelphia history!

05/11/2026
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, THEN AND NOW: Religion and the Immigrant Experiences - Building This Country Together…..June 7th, 202...
05/08/2026

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, THEN AND NOW: Religion and the Immigrant Experiences - Building This Country Together…..June 7th, 2026 - 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM here at Saint Augustine Church

05/07/2026

Father Jeremy shares his reaction to the announcement of an Augustinian Pope!

Join us!
04/24/2026

Join us!

04/12/2026

The Lord seeth!

04/05/2026

Happy Easter, everyone!

04/05/2026

“We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song!” - St. Augustine. Happy Easter from the Augustinians and the. entire community at St. Augustine’s Church

04/05/2026

Easter Vigil

Address

243 N Lawrence Street
Philadelphia, PA
19106

Telephone

+12156271838

Website

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