We’re a historic parish with a contemporary mission: to create a new model of church that redefines congregation through a commitment to worship and the arts. We believe the shared experience of art inspires connection, empathy and reflection.
We bring fresh approaches and voices to the interpretation of our sanctuary space, where works of prominent 19th-century architects, sculptors, designers and stained glass artists contribute to the meaning and atmosphere of our building, the oldest extant example of the Gothic Revival style in Philadelphia.
Designed by Henry Holiday, 1887-1889
Memorial to the children of Eliza Howard and Edward Shippen Burd. The sculpture resides in a side chapel designed for it by Richard Upjohn. Both the chapel and the sculpture rest on the Burd family burial site.
Designed by Henry Holiday, 1887-1889.
Memorial to the children of Eliza Howard and Edward Shippen Burd. The sculpture resides in a side chapel designed for it by Richard Upjohn. Both the chapel and the sculpture rest on the Burd family burial site.
Carl Steinhauser sculpted this monumental baptismal font for Eliza Howard Burd, who gave it to the church in 1857.
Memorial to the children of Eliza Howard and Edward Shippen Burd, sculpted by Carl Steinhauser. The marble sculpture represents the Angel of the Resurrection waking the children for their ascent into heaven.
Memorial to Edward Shippen Burd commissioned by his wife, Eliza Howard Burd. Designed by architect Frank Wills and sculpted by Henry Kirke Brown.
Memorial to the children of Eliza Howard and Edward Shippen Burd. The marble sculpture represents the Angel of the Resurrection waking the children for their ascent into heaven.
Memorial to Edward Shippen Burd commissioned by his wife, Eliza Howard Burd. Designed by architect Frank Wills and sculpted by Henry Kirke Brown.
When St. Stephen’s reopened with a new mission in 2017, the incoming team unearthed an unexpected feature of the church: Lying intact beneath the 19th-century addition was the original churchyard. This discovery led the team to transform that area to a commemorative space, now called the Furness Burial Cloister.
St. Stephen’s invites artists into our sanctuary to question, create, strengthen our community and challenge our assumptions and practices as a church. As we hold daily worship, so too do we produce annual performance series and support rehearsal and presenting opportunities for Philadelphia artists.
Historical Artwork
Preservation Work
Using our Space
