Society Hill in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church

Independence National Historical Park

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 13, 2023

1. Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church Marker

Inscription.
Founded in 1733, St. Joseph's symbolizes the religious freedom which Pennsylvania—and ultimately, the United States—guaranteed its citizens.

When, in 1734, the colony threatened to close St. Joseph's, its founder, Rev. Joseph Greaton, declared "…we are and of right ought to be free and independent of all civil authority retarding, restricting, or debarring religion. It is not toleration we claim. It is freedom we demand and will maintain."

The current church building dates from 1838.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil Rights • Colonial Era • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1733.

Location. 39° 56.82′ N, 75° 8.866′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Society Hill. It is on South 4th Street south of Walnut Street (County Road 3006), on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 316 Walnut St, Philadelphia PA 19106, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania. It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Todd House (within shouting distance of this marker); The Philadelphia Contributionship (within shouting distance of this marker);

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Old St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church (within shouting distance of this marker); James Madison 4th President lived here (within shouting distance of this marker); 18th Century Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Old St. Joseph's National Shrine (within shouting distance of this marker); A Working-Class House in the Capital City (within shouting distance of this marker); Old St. Joseph's (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 13, 2023

2. Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 15, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 265 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 15, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.