St. Clement's Church - Philadelphia, PA
Posted by: 
silverquill
N 39° 57.396 W 075° 10.360
18S E 485251 N 4422954
John Notman was the architect for St. Clement’s. He also designed and built St. Mark’s Church on Locust Street, and the Church of the Holy Trinity on Rittenhouse Square. The cornerstone was laid on 12th May 1856, by The Rt. Rev’d Alonzo Potter.
Waymark Code: WM5WYF
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 02/22/2009
Views: 7
On September 13, 1855, a charter was granted to “The Rector, Churchwardens, and Vestrymen of S. Clement’s Church in the City of Philadelphia.” The first Rector was the Rev’d Henry S. Spackman, who was elected as soon as the first charter was received, and his rectorate began officially on January 1, 1856.
The cornerstone was laid on 12th May 1856, by The Rt. Rev’d Alonzo Potter, Third Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania.
The land on which S. Clement’s was built was furnished by William Wood, a relative of Dr. Spackman. He owned most of the land in this section of Philadelphia and was eager that a church should be built, not so much because of any religious devotion on his part, but because he felt the erection of a church would greatly enhance his residential projects.
John Notman was the architect for S. Clement’s. He also designed and built S. Mark’s Church on Locust Street, the Church of the Holy Trinity on Rittenhouse Square, and, with Napoleon Le Brun, was associate architect for the Roman Catholic Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul on Logan Square.
The building of S. Clement’s Church lasted 3 years, because of recurring financial difficulties. Contemporary evidence indicates that at one time all work was stopped and the building stood roofless for a long period. It was finally opened for services on the first Sunday in January 1859. There is no record of any services for the congregation before the opening of the new building. The Church was consecrated on April 12, 1864. Bishop Potter again officiated and was assisted by Bishop Stevens, Bishop Suffragan in the Diocese, and by Bishop Lee of Delaware.