Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church Furness Burial Cloister
Photo added by Flababo

Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church Furness Burial Cloister

Also known as Saint Stephen's Episcopal Churchyard and Burial Vaults

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA

Add cemetery photos

About

Members have Contributed

Advertisement

Photos

Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church was founded and consecrated in 1823. A year later, the vestry purchased a narrow lot to the north of the church as its churchyard and burial ground. In 1878, the congregation commissioned famous Philadelphia architect Frank Furness to design a transept addition to be built over the churchyard; subsequently, the remainder of the churchyard was replaced entirely by a parish house in 1888. Certain vault lids in the churchyard, now under the additions, were exposed in the floors of the Parish House vestibule and transept, much like the slab-studded floors of Christ Church, where congregants had been buried from the beginning. Similarly, lids of the four taller vaults under St. Stephen's transept floor were partially exposed in the bare floor until the aisles were later tiled.



The church commemorated those thought to be buried in the transept and just beyond with a plaque with their names in the Parish House vestibule — a plaque containing many errors and omissions. In 2019, the church completed a complete renovation of the space, which exposed the nine burial vaults preserved underneath the transept, and, following reconstruction of the floor, dedicated it as the Furness Burial Cloister.

Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church was founded and consecrated in 1823. A year later, the vestry purchased a narrow lot to the north of the church as its churchyard and burial ground. In 1878, the congregation commissioned famous Philadelphia architect Frank Furness to design a transept addition to be built over the churchyard; subsequently, the remainder of the churchyard was replaced entirely by a parish house in 1888. Certain vault lids in the churchyard, now under the additions, were exposed in the floors of the Parish House vestibule and transept, much like the slab-studded floors of Christ Church, where congregants had been buried from the beginning. Similarly, lids of the four taller vaults under St. Stephen's transept floor were partially exposed in the bare floor until the aisles were later tiled.



The church commemorated those thought to be buried in the transept and just beyond with a plaque with their names in the Parish House vestibule — a plaque containing many errors and omissions. In 2019, the church completed a complete renovation of the space, which exposed the nine burial vaults preserved underneath the transept, and, following reconstruction of the floor, dedicated it as the Furness Burial Cloister.

Nearby cemeteries

Arch Street Presbyterian Burial Ground

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA

  • 98
  • 1%
  • 0%
0.2 mi
Fifth Baptist Church Burial Ground

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA

  • 0
  • 0%
  • 0%
0.2 mi
First Church of the New Jerusalem Burial Ground

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA

  • 0
  • 0%
  • 0%
0.2 mi
First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia Burial Ground

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA

  • 10
  • 0%
  • 0%
0.2 mi
  • Added: 29 Jan 2006
  • Find a Grave Cemetery ID: 2165169