The St. Philomena Church is a

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

church located in

Lansdowne, Pennsylvania Lansdowne is a borough (Pennsylvania), borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, located southwest of Center City, Philadelphia, Center City Philadelphia. It was named for the Marquess of Lansdowne. As of the 2010 United States ...

History

Beginning construction in 1898, the cornerstone for the church's foundation was laid on December 4 of that year. The local congregation, who had been meeting in a rented space at the Lansdowne Hall, held a service in the rain led by Bishop Edmond Francis Prendergast as the cornerstone was laid. The church was completed for the most part by 1899, although would undergo various major renovations and roof raisings throughout the early 20th century. The church was dedicated to

Saint Philomena Philomena ( ), also known as Saint Philomena (; ) or Philomena of Rome ( 10 January 291 10 August 304) was a virgin martyr whose remains were discovered on May 24–25, 1802, in the Catacomb of Priscilla. Three tiles enclosing the tomb bore a ...

on May 27, 1900. Rev. Francis J. Markee was the rector at its founding. In 1902, planning began to construct a parochial school for the congregation under lead of Philadelphia architect Rowland W. Boyle (d. 1911). Construction began in 1906, and it was officially dedicated on September 22, 1907, by Archbishop

Patrick John Ryan Patrick John Ryan (February 20, 1831 – February 11, 1911) was an Irish-born Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Philadelphia from 1884 until his death in 1911. Early life and education Patrick Ryan was born in Thurles, County Tippera ...

. In 1924, the church rectory began plans for expansion after a donation of $70,000 ($ USD in ) by Philadelphia businessman Thomas Fitzgerald. In 1925, the church's

convent A convent is an enclosed community of monks, nuns, friars or religious sisters. Alternatively, ''convent'' means the building used by the community. The term is particularly used in the Catholic Church, Lutheran churches, and the Anglican ...

caught fire and burned to the ground. Later in the year, the final touches on the main building were completed. The convent was fully restored and blessed by Bishop

J. Carroll McCormick Joseph Carroll McCormick (December 15, 1907 – November 2, 1996) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown in Pennsylvania (1960–1966) and bishop of the Diocese of Scrant ...

in 1950. Minor repairs were made in 1990 after a drunk driver crashed his car into the steps leading up to the church. 2 months later, a

gas explosion A gas explosion is the Combustion, ignition of a mixture of air and flammable gas, typically from a gas leak. In household accidents, the principal explosive gases are those used for heating or cooking purposes such as natural gas, methane, propan ...

damaged the church's lower school, injuring one person. For the first 45 years of its existence, St. Philomena's pastor was Francis J. Markee (1855–1943), who served until his death in June 1943. Rev. A. Paul Lambert succeeded him as priest in July 1943. In 1998, the church celebrated its Centenary Jubilee, holding a triathlon extending to the shore of

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

. In October 2021, the SS Cyril Catholic school merged with Saint Philomena into one Catholic school following the closure of the St. Cyril of Alexandria parish, whose congregation had merged with St. Philomena's in 2013. File:The Philadelphia Inquirer Mon Dec 5 1898.jpg, Depiction of Cornerstone ceremony in the Philadelphia Inquirer, 1898 File:The Philadelphia Inquirer Thu Dec 22 1898.png, Original blueprint design for edifice of church, 1898 File:The Philadelphia Inquirer Sun May 2 1948.jpg, Rev. A. Paul Lambert and Bishop

celebrating Golden Jubilee of St. Philomena, 1948

References

Roman Catholic churches in Pennsylvania Lansdowne, Pennsylvania 1898 establishments in Pennsylvania Romanesque Revival church buildings {{Authority control