CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

435 Court Street
Reading, PA 19601
610.374.8269

History:

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The beginning of Christ Episcopal Church in Reading dates to the 1760s. Christ Church is the oldest English-speaking congregation in the city of Reading. Its first meetings took place in private homes and the courthouse. In 1815, a lot was donated for an Episcopal Church, and in 1826, the present site of Christ Episcopal Church was built.

The first church was small and required an enlargement in 1847. The original tower was removed, and the nave or central part of the church was extended 32 feet. The largest renovation since its construction happened during the 1860s. The project was headed by architect Edward T. Potter who designed the façade. The iconic tower and spire that are nearly two hundred feet high were added in 1863. Also, the oldest glass in the church dates to the Edward T. Potter renovations.

In 1959, the church added a modern addition, west of the original church. The modern addition would become a parish house and provides large meeting spaces and offices for the church’s business, social, or extension activities.

Congregation/Space:

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The church, like most churches, has a smaller congregation than it historically had for many years. However, the church still has about 400 people come into the building during worship services. They also have another two hundred to four-hundred people come into the building during the week for outreach activities that the church either runs or hosts for other organizations.

The church overall is in good condition. The façade and the tower that were erected in the 1860s were constructed of red sandstone while the rest of the building behind the façade was constructed of brick. The church is decorated with gothic-style elements and ornamentation. There are ornaments of dragons, shields, flowers and tracery throughout the exterior of the church and the tower.

Inside the church, the ceiling has  magnificent horizontal beams with curved supports on the north and south walls in the nave. The chancel, or space around the altar, is quite deep and recessed back. The center stained-glass window in the chancel has an Ascension Window from Lamb Studios that are Tiffany-style.

Programs:

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The church hosts a large organization, Reading Area Narcotics Anonymous, which brings in around 500 people a week. NA helps recovering addicts who meet regularly, six times a week. The church also hosts youth Sunday School and Adult Bible Studies. Local music and theater groups use the church’s large spaces in the Parish Hall.