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

Old St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 16, 2015

1. Old St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church Marker

Inscription. In 1729, Rev. Joseph Greaton, SJ, established the earliest foundation of Catholicism in Pa. He was the church’s first pastor and the only Catholic priest in Philadelphia when the church was built in 1733. Jesuits from this parish founded the early frontier missions of Conewago in Adams County and Goshenhoppen in Berks County, as well as the first Catholic churches in New Jersey and Delaware.

Erected 2014 by Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1729.

Location. 39° 56.833′ N, 75° 8.859′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Society Hill. It is on Walnut Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 324 Walnut Street, 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 (a few steps from this marker); 18th Century Garden (a few steps from this marker); Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church (within shouting distance of this marker); James Madison 4th President lived here

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(within shouting distance of this marker); A Working-Class House in the Capital City (within shouting distance of this marker); The Philadelphia Contributionship (within shouting distance of this marker); A Changing Neighborhood (within shouting distance of this marker); “Evangeline” (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 16, 2015

2. Old St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 19, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 833 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 19, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.