Union Methodist Episcopal Church
Also known as: Jones Tabernacle AME Church and Parish House
Why it's listed
Built in 1888-89 on Diamond Street in north Philadelphia, the Union Methodist Episcopal Church and its parish house were designed by the Philadelphia firm Hazelhurst & Huckel in the Richardsonian Romanesque manner associated with H. H. Richardson of Boston. The stone facade features a large quarry-faced entrance arch on squat Syrian columns, a tripartite stained glass window set within a cylindrical buttress, and a gable with a checkerboard stone pattern. Inside, cast iron columns support the wood truss of a broad, open nave, and most of the original oak pews and furnishings survive. The building reflects the move of middle-class congregations to the new residential districts formed after the Civil War, at the end of the horse car lines. Its architecture is regarded as an unusually vigorous handling of the Romanesque style. Later, the church was sold to Jones A.M.E. Church, a congregation founded by Dr. Richard R. Wright, a prominent African Methodist Episcopal figure.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is significant for its architecture, as a strong example of Richardsonian Romanesque design by Hazelhurst & Huckel, and for its reflection of the northward move of Philadelphia's middle-class congregations after the Civil War. It also notes the building's later association with Jones A.M.E. Church and Dr. Richard R. Wright.
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 80003622, listed October 15, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2019 W. Diamond St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | October 15, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003622 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1888-1889 |
| Architect / builder | Hazelhurst & Huckel (architects) |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 39.98628, -75.16705 (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 80003622.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7885834
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.