In 1901, the ambitious construction of the Chambers-Wylie Presbyterian Church on South Broad Street was at long last complete. Boasting granite and Indiana Limestone on all sides of its impressive 76-foot frame and one of the finest pipe organs in the country, the building towered over its neighbors along this emerging cultural corridor. Its main auditorium, with an 800-person capacity, would have been the envy of many a congregation. Roughly 100 years later, its new pastor walked into that sanctuary and began pulling the pews up from the floor, clearing the room for a revised, though equally ambitious, future.

Broad Street Ministry was founded by The Rev. Bill Golderer in 2005 as something of an experiment: not a church, per se; not a mission; not a community center — yet drawing on elements of all three to create an alternative type of worship community driven by a commitment to inclusivity and hospitality for all people. Today, BSM is one of the region’s most innovative social service organizations, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, and an epicenter of community and compassion for more than 7,000 Philadelphians experiencing poverty.

The old cliché of a rag-tag nonprofit housed within a run-down church building, long past its heyday, exists for a reason. Mission-driven organizations attempt to do a lot with a little — sometimes to such an extent that building maintenance is repeatedly delayed or deferred. With “radical hospitality” as its guiding principle, however, BSM recognized the importance of mise en place. As the French philosopher Gaston Bachelard said, “The house protects the dreamer, the house allows one to dream in peace.” Spaces matter. Physical surroundings influence mental and emotional states. They would not be an afterthought at BSM.

“When you come for a meal at Broad Street, the table has already been set,” says BSM’s chief development officer, Kris Jaeger. “A table cloth has been neatly pressed, a centerpiece has been placed, your water has been poured by a server who later sets down your plate and asks how you’re enjoying your meal. With all that attention to detail in the dining room, we communicate a level of hospitality before our guests even arrive.”

After decades of wear, tear, and weather — and months of disruptive scaffolding — BSM is now able to broadcast that hospitality message from blocks away thanks to a recently renovated façade. Much of this work was to ensure the structural and aesthetic integrity of the church’s iconic twin towers, modeled after Ripon Cathedral in Yorkshire, as well as its ornamental details, whose faces and figures now can be appreciated from street level. This detailed work involved removing, cataloging, and repairing the church’s original stone blocks and buttresses. The stones were then refitted and reinforced with steel supports to ensure their integrity and safety for generations to come. Even the fresh brickpointing was completed by hand in the distinctive style used in late-19th century Gothic Revival masonry.

This attention to detail mirrors the commitment to service Jaeger describes happening inside during BSM’s meal service. As she explains, neighbors who use services at BSM tend to experience scarcity in many overlapping ways: a lack of affordable housing, nutritious meals, and fresh clothing. However, the building also embodies something else in short supply for many: beauty. The anecdote to this, for BSM, has included poetry and music workshops, art installations in its stunning dining room, crafts tables, and collaborations with Mural Arts Philadelphia, where guests of Broad Street contribute to murals installed in Center City. This emphasis on aesthetics also extends to the building itself.

“The people who attended church here in its heyday were some of the city’s toniest residents, and they were used to being treated that way,” says Jaeger. “It’s a wonderful feeling to have the building say to our guests today that they, too, are VIPs.”

Responsible stewardship of its historic building aligns naturally with BSM’s mission of hospitality. It also signals to guests, staff, volunteers, and neighbors alike that this architectural gemstone — and the critical resources inside — are here to stay.

by Michael McKee, Grants & Communications Specialist, Broad Street Ministry