Haven’t you ever wondered how a movie theater could become a church? St. Bartholomew’s Roman Catholic Church has a unique origin story. It began in a movie house. This is the story of St. Bartholomew’s Roman Catholic Church. Its humble beginnings and its journey to becoming a pillar of faith.
In 1919, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia established St. Bartholomew’s Parish. It was carved from the southern territory of St. Leo Parish. Father Joseph Scanlon became the founding pastor. He celebrated the first Masses in an unusual location. It was the Elite Theater on Torresdale Avenue. This pre-talkies movie house seated 297 people.
But the true beginnings of St. Bartholomew’s trace back further. It was to a Sunday school at Toomey’s Hall on Vankirk Street. Miss Irene Merget and other volunteers led it. The large number of children showed the need for a new parish in the area.
Father Patrick Fogarty from St. Leo’s proposed a chapel. It would be at Vankirk and Walker Streets. Archbishop Dennis Dougherty vetoed this. He understood the need for a full church. So, the larger property at 5600 Jackson Street was purchased.
Cardinal Dougherty had a rule for new parishes. First, build a school with a chapel. Then, build the church after the school was paid off. Construction began and the first Mass was held in the chapel on Christmas Day 1920. The windows weren’t even glazed yet.
The Christmas Mass may have had a practical reason. Celebrating Mass before year’s end made the property tax-exempt. The Sisters of St. Joseph arrived to staff the school. It eventually educated 1200 children at its peak. Other buildings were added. A convent, a rectory, and even a converted World War I building. This Quonset hut served as a parish hall.
The Great Depression and another world war delayed building a proper church. In 1955, Father Joseph McMahon received permission to begin construction. The beautiful stone church was dedicated in 1956. It had a larger seating capacity than other churches. This was because of modern construction methods without interior pillars.
By 2011, when Father John J. LaRosa arrived, St. Bartholomew’s faced challenges. Young families had moved to the suburbs. The school closed in 2005. The parish had a debt of almost 1 million dollars.
Many city parishes were closing due to dwindling populations. St. Bartholomew’s dodged that bullet in 2013. Two parishes in its cluster closed. But St. Bartholomew’s was spared.
In 2016, most parish buildings were sold to New Courtland Senior Services. This helped pay off the parish debt. Father LaRosa also innovatively sectioned off the rear of the church. This created St. Martha’s Hall for parish meetings and social gatherings.
St. Bartholomew’s now has a weekend Mass attendance of under 600. The 1800-seat church was too large. St. Martha’s Hall is an example of making lemonade from lemons.
Gerry Owens, a parishioner for over 30 years, said it feels like a family. She credits Father LaRosa with enriching parish participation. Deacon John Bean started new initiatives like a Scripture Study Program. Deacon Gerard McPhillips continues this work.
The people of St. Bartholomew’s have a tremendous love for the parish. They work hard to welcome everyone. They pray for the working of the Holy Spirit. St. Bartholomew’s Roman Catholic Church stands as a testament. It shows the enduring power of faith and community. From a humble movie theater to a revitalized parish. St. Bartholomew’s continues to serve its community.