Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Founded by German-speaking immigrants in 1787 to preserve their language and customs, Holy Trinity Church was the first German Catholic parish in the U.S. and became a model for other ethnic Catholic parishes. The church was built in 1788-1789. By 1790, members included African Americans and emigrants from Saint-Domingue. The cemetery interred Black parishioners together with those of Euro-pean ancestry. The parish closed in 2009.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
Founded in 1787 by German-speaking Catholics who wanted to worship and pass on their traditions in their own language, Holy Trinity became the first German national parish in the United States. Its church rose in 1788–1789, and within a few years its congregation and cemetery included African Americans and refugees from the upheaval in Saint-Domingue, buried alongside parishioners of European descent. The model of the ethnic 'national parish' it pioneered would shape American Catholicism for generations before the parish finally closed in 2009.
Why it matters
Holy Trinity pioneered the immigrant national parish that let waves of newcomers keep their language and faith while becoming American, a template that would define urban Catholicism across the country.
Plan your visit
NearbyMake a day of it — museums, food, and places to stay near this marker.
Museums & culture
- Hill-Physick House0.2 mi away · 321 South 4th Street
- Bridgette Mayer0.2 mi away · 709 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Powel House0.2 mi away · 244 South 3rd Street
- Philosophical Hall0.2 mi away · PA
- Congress Hall0.3 mi away · Philadelphia, PA
- Independence Hall0.3 mi away · 520 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
Attractions
- Second Bank of the United States0.3 mi away · 420 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Liberty Bell0.3 mi away · 526 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Carpenters' Hall0.3 mi away · 320 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
- First Bank of the United States0.3 mi away · 120 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA
- President's House0.4 mi away
- City Tavern0.4 mi away · 138 South 2nd Street
Food & drink
- Talula's Garden0.2 mi away · 210 West Washington Square, Philadelphia, PA
- Talula's Daily0.2 mi away · 208 West Washington Square, Philadelphia, PA
- Cafe Walnut0.2 mi away · 703 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Fat Salmon0.2 mi away · 719 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Thank You Thank You Coffee Roasters0.2 mi away · 700 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Maya's Pizza & Grill0.2 mi away · 716 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA
Places to stay
- Morris House Hotel0.2 mi away · 225 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA
- AKA Washington Square0.3 mi away · 834 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Renaissance Philadelphia Downtown Hotel0.3 mi away · 401 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Best Western Plus Independence Park Hotel0.4 mi away · 237 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Apple Hostels Philadelphia0.4 mi away · 32 South Bank Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Apple Hostels0.4 mi away · 33 Bank Street, Philadelphia, PA
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Themes & tags
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