Transforming Church Buildings

Church buildings are getting a major makeover with a process deemed as revolutionary by many inside and outside of the church community. 

When Bishop Gutiérrez first arrived in the diocese in 2016, the Church of the Crucifixion was closed and ready to be sold. “I told everyone we would not sell churches, we would grow them,” said Gutiérrez, who made headlines when he reopened three churches in a five-year span in this diocese. “We dared to dream and sought a new path.” 

When it opened in 1847, The Church of the Crucifixion was the second black Episcopal church in Philadelphia, attracting singer Marian Anderson and sociologist W. E. B. DuBois. “The Church of the Crucifixion plays an important role in the Black history of the city. We knew we needed to honor its heritage while looking at how to attract current community members.”

In 2022, The Church of the Crucifixion was reopened by Gutiérrez and he installed the Rev. Yesenia Alejandro as its vicar.  The church was re-imagined by Alejandro and the diocese to meet the needs of its community.  The church now includes space that provides food and coffee service, water fountains and newly installed bathrooms as well as a portable sound system. 

Many of the diocese’s churches are more than 100 years old.  “The upkeep required for some of our churches takes away from spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We needed to change that.”

The process at Crucifixion was the impetus for the Transformation Committee, comprised of experts in community leadership, real estate and business who volunteer their time to meet with churches and come up with a plan to increase income for the church while reaching further into the community.

“We are doing things differently in this diocese,” said Gutiérrez. “We are revolutionary, scandalous and creating places of belonging.”

As of October 2024, there are 14 churches engaged with the Transformation Committee. Hear from Al Daindridge more about it and contact us to get started.