PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Philadelphia Archdiocese is closing three churches that were left vacant because of parish mergers in the past couple of years.
The archdiocese says Holy Trinity Church in Society Hill, St. Rose of Lima Church in West Philadelphia, and Our Lady of Ransom Church in Northeast Philadelphia will no longer be worship sites for Masses, weddings, funerals or other church-sponsored events.
Holy Trinity is the oldest of the three and was built in 1789 by German-speaking Catholics. It is the third-oldest church in the archdiocese.
Archdiocesan spokesman Ken Gavin says each of the churches is in need of extensive renovations, which would severely impact the finances of the merged parishes, which still own the buildings.
Gavin says the pastors managing the three vacant churches will decide their futures.
