Standing here, in front of Saint Andrews Church, you can almost hear the echoing voices of the past. This towering Gothic structure, built in 1924, was once the centerpiece of the Philadelphia Episcopal Seminary. The seminary, founded in 1857, was built on a five-acre estate that once belonged to financier Clarence Clark. It was a grand place, with a mansion, an arboretum, and even a private zoo. Only the iron gates remain today. The church was a vision of the Zantzinger, Borie & Medary architectural firm, which had a strong connection with the University of Pennsylvania. The interior was a masterpiece, with ironwork by Samuel Yellin, stained glass windows by Nicola D’Ascenzo, and a carved limestone reredos. It was one of Philadelphia’s finest examples of sacred spaces. But the Great Depression dealt a blow to the seminary’s grand plans. Only six of the planned twenty-two structures were built. The seminary closed its doors in 1974, and the University of Pennsylvania took possession of the property. Today, Saint Andrews Church stands as a quiet reminder of a bygone era. The locked building is a sanctuary of silence, surrounded by the bustling energy of its neighbors, the Penn Alexander School and the Parent Infant Center. The church is now owned by the University of Pennsylvania and is only open to the public for occasional concerts or art installations. It is a place where the whispers of history still echo through the vaulted ceilings, making you feel as if you are transported back in time.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to