Hope Lutheran Church

601 N. Front Street

History: Hope Lutheran began as Hope Chapel on Schuylkill Ave., branching off from Trinity Lutheran and creating their own congregation in 1887. By 1904, the congregation grew to 357 members, and they relocated to their current location on Front and Greenwich.

Congregation/Space:

Hope Lutheran’s building was completed in 1904. Its exterior is made of beautiful honed granite and features distinctive red doors throughout the front. Within the sanctuary space one will notice stained glass windows that line the walls as well as a polished marble altar. A more recent addition to the sanctuary space is an impressive mural in oil paint created by local artist Tom Alexander. It is displayed at the head of the nave for all to admire and depicts various biblical stories.

Programs:

Giving to the community is one of Hope Lutheran’s main missions. They have a food pantry that serves some 200 people per week, a community meal that serves about 100 meals each Tuesday, and a cozy pay-what-you-can cafe across the street, Cafe Esperanza, that serves 80 meals each week. They are also in the process of maintaining a community garden that is available to the public.