Built of Newtown brownstone and Indiana limestone in 1887 Hope Presbyterian Church stands before you. Its story began much earlier though. In 1875 Reverend J Gray Bolton a graduate of Union Theological Seminary became pastor of this small congregation. They initially worshipped at 33rd and Wharton Streets. This was a bustling industrial area near the Schuylkill River. Reading and B&O Railroad trains constantly passed. They delivered locally made goods.
Hope Presbyterian Church was an offshoot of Calvary Presbyterian Church. John A Neff founded it four years prior. Under Reverend Bolton the congregation exploded. By 1887 they had 212 members and a Sunday school with 400 children. They needed a bigger building. Charles W Bolton designed the 80 by 85-foot church. The distinctive tower came later due to financial constraints. It originally held a tall steeple and a cross.
In 1895 Abbie S Queen a church member pledged to build a library. This was to honor her late husband James W Queen. He was a prominent manufacturer of scientific instruments. Air pumps induction coils and gyroscopes were some of his inventions. Mrs Queen stated that she wished to highlight love and character in her husband’s life.
The Gothic Revival style library replaced the church’s chapel. It had a 1200-seat auditorium meeting rooms and a library. The basement later became a gymnasium. The Queen Memorial Library was a branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia from 1912 to 1945. It contained over 2000 books including those from the Queen and Dickey collections. It moved to Point Breeze Avenue in 1945 then to 1201 S 23rd Street. It still operates today.
Sadly Hope Presbyterian Church’s congregation dwindled in the late 20th century. Like many mainline Protestant churches it closed its doors in the early 2000s. But the building remains a testament to faith community and the generosity of Abbie S Queen. It stands as a reminder of Philadelphia’s rich industrial past and its enduring spiritual legacy. The story of Hope Presbyterian Church is a Philadelphia story one of growth decline and the lasting impact of a community.