Saint Michael Church

In 1831, a plot of land was purchased for $3,333. This marked the beginning of Saint Michael Church. It became the first Catholic Church in Philadelphia County. Saint Michael Church wasn’t inside Philadelphia’s city limits at the time. It was located in West Kensington, sometimes called “Old Kensington”. The church’s cemetery holds another distinction. It was the first Catholic cemetery in the Philadelphia area. The Very Rev. Terence Donaghoe guided the church as its first pastor from 1833 to 1843. He also had a significant role in education. Alongside Mother Mary Frances Clarke, he founded the Sisters of Charity, BVM. He then invited them to teach at the parish school. Sadly, the original Saint Michael Church was destroyed during the Nativist Riots of 1844. These riots erupted over a dispute about which Bible translation Catholic students could use in public schools. Bishop Francis Kenrick had requested they be allowed to use the Catholic Douay-Rheims version. However, other students used the Protestant King James Version. The riots resulted in the burning of St. Michael’s and St. Augustine’s churches. The violence only subsided when cannon were positioned in front of St. John the Evangelist Cathedral. General George Cadwalader, leading the state militia, threatened to quell any further unrest with force. Saint Michael Church was eventually rebuilt, mirroring the design of the original structure. This was possible thanks to a $27,000 award. Philadelphia County paid this sum in 1847. They were deemed responsible for failing to protect the church during the riots. The riots had lasting consequences. Several districts outside Philadelphia’s city limits, including Kensington, were incorporated into the city. This led to the unification of police and fire departments. Also, Bishop Kenrick shifted his focus from influencing public schools. He instead prioritized the creation of parochial schools exclusively for Catholic children. The church’s demographics changed over time. Initially, it was predominantly Irish, serving those working in the nearby Kensington mills. The parish grew significantly after the Great Famine in the late 1840s. As new Catholic churches were established, Saint Michael’s territory and congregation size decreased. Today, Saint Michael Church’s reach extends across West Kensington, Kensington, Fishtown, and Northern Liberties. This expansion came after it absorbed the Immaculate Conception Parish in 2011. The current parish now encompasses a diverse population, including a significant Latino community in West Kensington. Interestingly, Saint Michael’s has links to LaSalle University. The university’s origins trace back to St. Michael’s School. The Christian Brothers began teaching there on July 20, 1858.