Tindley Temple United Methodist Church
Also known as: East Calvary United Methodist Church; Calvary United Methodist Church
Why it's listed
Built between 1923 and 1928 on Broad Street in central Philadelphia, Tindley Temple United Methodist Church is a masonry church of tan and buff brick with limestone trim and flat roofs with parapets. Its main sanctuary was designed to hold 3,200 worshippers and has a reinforced concrete balcony, stained glass windows, and a large baptismal pool. A school and office addition was built on the south in 1962-1963. The church is significant for its association with Reverend Charles Albert Tindley, who led the congregation from 1902 until his death in 1933. Tindley was known for combining sermons with social programs, including housing and job training for migrants arriving from the South during the Great Migration. He also became an influential voice in political affairs affecting Pennsylvania's Black community. The congregation renamed itself Tindley Temple in 1927, and the building is considered the most fitting physical link to his public career.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is significant for its association with Reverend Charles Albert Tindley, a leading figure in Philadelphia's African American religious and social life during the period 1916-1929. It cites his combination of preaching with community services, his political influence, and the 1927 renaming of the congregation after him as the building that best expresses his significance.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 11000199, listed April 15, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 750-762 S Broad St, Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | April 15, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000199 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1924-1933 |
| Architect / builder | Ballinger Company (architect); Robert E. Lamb Company (contractor); John S. McQuade Company (contractor) |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts Romanesque and Art Deco (original church); International Style (addition) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The document describes the building as being in generally good condition and retaining integrity of materials, workmanship, and design. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.94342, -75.16606 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 11000199.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7808062
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.