Watch ONLINE via ZOOM from the safety and comfort of your home. A link with instructions will be provided three hours prior to this virtual lecture. 

A Diamond in the Rough: The Legacy and Trials of Church of the Advocate

presented by Tyler Ray

On October 9th, 1897, The Philadelphia Times wrote: “The Memorial Church of the Advocate, designed by Charles M. Burns, is the most important and complete example of French Gothic architecture on this continent”. Originally intended to be the cathedral for the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, the Church of the Advocate has been a pillar of social activism in North Philadelphia for over 125 years. It is mostly known today as being the location of the Black Panther Conference in 1970, and hosting the ordination of the first women priest into the Episcopal Church in 1974. Today, the church still finds resilience to serve its Philadelphia neighborhood while its physical structure is slowly crumbling down. Join North Philadelphia historian Tyler A. Ray as he talks about the establishment, legacy, trials, and future of one of America’s most grandest religious structures, hidden right here in the City of Philadelphia. 

Tyler A. Ray is an aspiring urban planner, historic preservationist, and public historian based in North Philadelphia. As a recent graduate of Temple University’s Urban Planning and Historic Preservation programs, Tyler has made it his life mission to revive, amplify, and activate historic buildings and sites in the marginalized communities of Philadelphia and beyond. 

$15 | General Admission

$10 | Alliance Member 

Students with ID or individuals with financial difficulties free with email to vcheng@preservationalliance.com