Donate Now
The stone Mount Vernon Baptist Church and its bell tower at the corner of East Rittenhouse Street under a blue sky

Help rebuild a Philadelphia landmark.

Generosity and giving make a difference. Your gift restores the historic Mount Vernon Baptist Church building on East Rittenhouse Street.

Donate NowMount Vernon Baptist Church is a tax-exempt church, EIN 83-0384567. Gifts are tax-deductible as allowed by law. See the plan

More than brick and mortar.

This building is the beating heart of our community.

The Mount Vernon Baptist Church building is the lifeline that keeps our neighbors strong and connected. This campaign is about more than maintaining a building. It is about preserving who we are.

When we stand together, the heart of MVBC Philly keeps beating for generations to come.

Read our story
Children and families at a summer community day outside Mount Vernon Baptist Church, with bounce houses and a clothing giveaway

Half a million dollars to restore our heart.

Every gift moves the mark. Our new roof is already complete. Next up: new restrooms, a recreation room and offices. Every amount helps, so see what a smaller gift can do.

Campaign goal
$500,000
Raised so far
$104,000
Of our goal
21%
Donate NowMount Vernon Baptist Church is a tax-exempt church, EIN 83-0384567. Gifts are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

Where your gift goes next.

Complete
The new roof

The roof repair and replacement is done and fully funded. With the building protected from the top down, the work inside can begin.

$100,000 raised100% funded
See every project's progress

  • Restrooms, recreation room and officesNext up: $100,000 goal

    Modern restrooms, a room for community programs and working offices.

    Goal $100,000Just starting

  • Heating and HVAC$100,000 goal

    Modern heating and cooling so the building is comfortable in every season.

    Goal $100,000Just starting

  • The sanctuary$150,000 goal

    Repair the plaster and water damage and restore our 1894 worship space.

    Goal $150,000Just starting

  • The baptistry$50,000 goal

    Restore the baptism area behind the pulpit.

    Goal $50,000Just starting

See what your gift will build.

These 3D renderings show where the restoration is headed: a bright sanctuary, working offices and modern facilities. Here is the building today, beside the vision.

The sanctuary

The sanctuary today, with worn walls and a blue tarp hanging beneath the wooden roof trusses
TodayThe sanctuary as it looks now.
Rendering of the restored sanctuary with stone walls, wooden pews, blue carpeted altar and lit roof trusses
The visionArtist's rendering of the planned restoration. Not yet built.

The offices

A church office today, crowded with boxes, papers and makeshift shelves
TodayAn office as it looks now.
Rendering of a finished office with paneled walls, built-in bookshelves, a desk and an area rug
The visionArtist's rendering of the planned restoration. Not yet built.

More of the vision

The images marked "The vision" and the three above are 3D artist's renderings by Dewayne Skinner of what we plan to build. They are not photos of the building today, and the final design may change as the work moves forward.

Donate NowMount Vernon Baptist Church is a tax-exempt church, EIN 83-0384567. Gifts are tax-deductible as allowed by law.See the full plan

One building. Multiple purposes.

Worship, community and care share the same walls. Restoring one restores them all.

  • Rebuild
  • Revitalize
  • Restore
  • Repurpose

  • The sanctuary

    Home of Mount Vernon Baptist Church Philly.

  • The community center

    Events, gatherings and programs for neighbors.

  • The resource center

    Support from Morthouse Heart Community Development Center.

Read our vision and mission
Why we give

Voices from our community.

  • Nicole Bradley

    "Preserving Black history while empowering our community is why I support Mount Vernon Baptist Church. It's more than a historic landmark. It's a place of faith, learning, and essential care."

    Nicole Bradley
  • Henry Bradley III standing beside a woman outside Mount Vernon Baptist Church

    "Preserving historic architecture means saving the stories within its walls. I support this restoration to safeguard our rich Black history and pass that pride along to the next generation."

    Henry Bradley III