Part of the 2026 Winter Speaker Series
via Zoom- Link will be emailed on February 3 at 3pm. Presentation will begin at 6pm
February 3, 2026
The Importance of the Preservation of Black Churches in Philadelphia
presented by Rev. Betsy Ivey
Part of the 2026 Winter Speaker Series, Building Philadelphia via Zoom.
$10 for Members. Be sure to log in at checkout for the discounted rates.
This presentation discusses the role of the Black Church in Philadelphia as the most important component of the stability of the initial settlement of the African Americans, free and enslaved. The Black Church initially served as the bridge for the expansion of the spirituality persons brought with them from their nascent African cultures to the European-based culture of Philadelphia. The Black Church, also, served as the center for the social development of Black culture. Assuming the vestiges of a post-colonial society, the Black Church is redeveloping its sacred spaces as the centers of community stability with awareness of the current needs of their neighborhoods.
Rev. Betsy Ivey is the Director of the Philadelphia Fund for Black Sacred Spaces of Partners for Sacred Spaces. She holds Masters’ degrees from Lancaster and the General Seminaries as well as a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania. Rev. Ivey is an ordained priest in the Episcopal Church.
Complementary access available for current students and Art-Reach ACCESS card holders. Email [email protected] with valid student ID or ACCESS card to register.
The presentation link will be emailed to registrants on Tuesday, February 3 at 3pm.
All lectures will be recorded and a replay will be available to registered participants.
Image Credits: The Rev. Dr’s Carolyn C. Cavaness and Eustacia Moffet Marshall ‘standing on the shoulders’ of two of the founders of the Black Church in Philadelphia: Rev’s Richard Allen (AME) and John Gloucester (Presbyterian).
