Zion Baptist Church of Philadelphia

(American Baptist)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Zion Baptist Church of Philadelphia, the steward of an important Modernist building designed by Black architect Walter Livingston, Jr., works to live out and honor the legacy of longtime pastor and activist Rev. Leon Sullivan.

Zion Baptist Church of Philadelphia Photo by Studio6mm

Zion Baptist Church of Philadelphia Photo by Studio6mm

2024 Cohort

Zion Baptist Church of Philadelphia

(American Baptist)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Zion Baptist Church of Philadelphia, the steward of an important Modernist building designed by Black architect Walter Livingston, Jr., works to live out and honor the legacy of longtime pastor and activist Rev. Leon Sullivan.

Founded in 1882, Zion Baptist Church (Zion) has a rich history of religious and socially progressive community outreach programs with a reach that extends far beyond Philadelphia. Rev. Leon Sullivan joined Zion as pastor in 1950 and served in that role until 1988. He gained national and international recognition as a Civil Rights leader for his development of the Selective Patronage Movement, a boycott principle that pressured businesses to end exclusionary hiring practices. Zion’s 1973 building was designed by Philadelphia’s most prominent Black architect of the post-war period, Walter Livingston Jr. Its towering glass clerestory walls form an abstracted steeple that references the nearby Gothic Revival style Annex building.

Zion continues to be a dedicated hub for community life in North Philadelphia. Various organizations call the sanctuary building home, including Called to Serve CDC, the Nicetown-Tioga Improvement Team, and the Miriam Medical Clinic. The congregation distributes food, clothing, and hot meals from the church building twice a month. Previously, Zion’s gym (located within the sanctuary building) was home to a locally renowned basketball league that cultivated the talents of several professional basketball players, including hall-of-famer Dawn Staley.

A National Fund grant of $240,000 matched with $480,000 raised by the congregation will help restore the gym, which has been rendered unusable due to extensive water infiltration. Repairs will involve a full roof replacement; the installation of new air handler units; replacement of the gym floor and subfloor; and renovation of the bathrooms. This project will allow Zion to better serve their community and has been identified as a priority by neighbors and community partners through a master planning process.

Zion Baptist Church of Philadelphia Photo by Chris Kendig

Spotlighting Women’s History at Historic Houses of Worship

Religious institutions have served both as a platform for the advancement of women’s rights and opportunities, and women have played critical roles in advancing religious traditions. The leadership and community building opportunities within these sacred sites have been critical to increasing female independence outside of the home and allowing women to develop institutions that strengthen their congregations and broader communities. The four historic houses of worship highlighted embody positive examples of how the histories of women and religion are inherently linked.

First Church in Oberlin

Stories and Media Coverage

Read more about how the National Fund for Sacred Places is helping congregations around the country rehabilitate their sacred places.

Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church by Luis P. Gutierrez