Eight years ago the Pastor reached out to me on Yelp to say they had a new location. So I went to…read morecheck it out as I was still church hopping and also, have you ever felt guilty for giving a church a 3 star review?! This new space at Philadelphia Film Center is actually pretty great. The lead Pastor continues to deliver relevant and biblically sound messages that are often wonderfully challenging (cry much?). And the worship team is filled with powerful voices. What's by far very interesting about this space of faith is the racial diversity. It is not mainly a sea of salt with a few sprinkles of black pepper, but a truly spicy rub mix, which you'd think would be more common in Philly-- but it's really not! And while the church definitely caters to the enthusiastic and passionate college students, there is an effort to create a supportive space for families. This is where I know there is room for growth-- if this is something you're really looking for, their South Jersey campus may scratch your itch. Pro Tips: 1. Free parking is offered at The Shops at Liberty Place-- a walkable distance which has allowed me to develop a very amicable relationship with the local Dunkin Donuts staff ; shoutout to their daughter who tirelessly works there as she studies at Temple. 2. If you're bringing your baby in your lap to the service bring some baby-sized earmuffs or check them into the nursery because many times it'll be like David (2 Samuel Chap 6) shouting praises for the first 20 minutes. And while your baby's cry may not be heard, it'll probably wreck your vibe. 3. If you tend to roll late wherever you go (raises hand guiltily) come to the first or third service where seats are more likely to be comfortably found. Come all ye faithful but especially all ye weary. You will be found.

I'm here in Philly for couple months and needed a contemporary church Sunday service. I was worried…read moreabout the parking situation because the location is in the heart of downtown Philly... the streets are busy, crowded, dense. Fortunately: Street parking is not impossible but also not free. The church gives out parking voucher at Liberty Parking Garage -- for free! The service was great, the people/community is diverse, welcoming, and amazing!

I grew up in Philly and was raised Catholic. For me, part of what makes Philly memorable is that it…read moreis a city of churches, many which were built in the 19th century. Not all of the churches here are Catholic churches but who cares? If one loves the interior coolness of old stone buildings, the lingering traces of sacred, ceremonial incense, the sweet, almost indiscernible note of recently extinguished beeswax candles and soaring, highly decorated ceilings and arches that make one feel both awed and humbled, there are few holy edifices more compelling than the cathedral basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. It's built in the Roman-Corinthian style and is modeled on a church in Rome. The cathedral construction was started in 1846 and completed in 1864. One of the details that makes this place "so Philly" to me is the fact that the clerestory windows were built very high to inhibit vandalism. The story goes that the original builders threw stones to see how high they went in order to ascertain the best and safest placement for the cathedral's windows. Forward thinking at its best. Like many people who live in a historic city, I passed this landmark church countless times without ever going inside and as an adult, I moved away without ever crossing the threshold. When I returned to Philadelphia in 2015 after a long time on the West coast, I met my friend Dee who loved Philly churches, regardless of size or history. Unlike my heathen self, Dee was still a practicing Catholic and had an almost encyclopedic knowledge of all the churches, large and small, in the greater metropolitan area. Over a non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner at my house, Dee asked if I had ever been to midnight mass. I said no, and added that I had not been in a church since my early teens. She asked me to accompany her to Midnight Christmas Mass at the Cathedral. I agreed. If you're visiting as a tourist and don't know the city, great news-there's a parking lot. The cathedral is massive and holds approximately 2000 people. While the facade, with its Renaissance inspired oxidized copper dome, is a thing of beauty, entering the narthex and surveying the interior of this place from nave to apse is absolutely breathtaking, no matter what you do or do not believe in or practice. My secret hope was that by attending Christmas Eve high Mass after decades of being a lapsed Catholic, I would (to quote Antonio Salieri) hear the voice of God. Looking at my surroundings and the crowd of the faithful around me made it feel like this would not be impossible. While I was not reconverted or touched by the Divine Hand or spoken to by the Divine Tongue that Christmas eve, I did feel blessed and soothed by the grand proportions and symmetry of this grand place of worship. Don't keep walking or driving by if you've never been inside. You may not be struck by Divine Intervention at your visit but you will be most assuredly gobsmacked by this massive and glorious brownstone tribute to a Higher Power.

After confession the priest told me I could no longer receive communion because I have no…read morerelationship with God, he should be terminated. I would never recommend anyone go here for mass. Horrible experience.

This is such a fun and welcoming church. The Epic church has multiple locations all over…read morePhiladelphia but this location meets in the Suzanne Roberts Theatre. Each church leads their own worship in the beginning but then the same message is live-streamed from the central location to all the other ones. Kind of a different experience if you're used to the traditional preacher at the pulpit kind. Make sure you come early and grab yourself a compliment cup or coffee or tea. If it's your first time you should stay afterwards for 5 min (it really is only five minutes) to talk to a representative and learn about all that the church does and how you can get involved. Bonus: you get a cute lil goodie bag with church swag. They have child care available during all services to let you focus and take notes. Great church to check out and has great opportunities to serve others.

I've been going to Epic for almost a year now and I can honestly say that I've met so many genuine,…read morewelcoming people here. Most of my close friends I first met by going to Epic and getting plugged into a Life Group (small group that meets during the week). I had just moved to Philadelphia when I started attending and didn't know many people and Epic was the first place I felt truly welcomed and comfortable. The messages on Sunday morning are practical and engaging. There's always something I can take away and apply to life and my routine during the week. The music is current and upbeat and is one of my favorite parts of going on Sunday. There are two services Sunday morning: 10:00 am and 11:30 am. When you walk in the lobby, there is free coffee, tea, hot chocolate and water. There are usually people in the lobby mingling with friends or getting connected with someone if it's their first time. The dress code is very casual and it doesn't matter how you show up. There are environments for kids (babies through 5th grade) during both services. During the 11:30 service middle school and high school students (6-12 grade) get together to learn and grow together in a fun way. Epic has four locations in total, so if Center City is not the most convenient for you, you can also check them out in Fairmount, Roxborough, and Parkside.

Everything. The pastor is smart and funny. He explains the Bible so well that this former…read moreCatholic understand it all. The people are so friendly and stay after the service to just fellowship. It's so different than the Catholic Mass. I'm so glad 4 separate people suggested I try this church. Love the pastor Joe and the music is really great too.

everyone friendly lots events activities. i wish there was also immigrant services chinese or etcread more

At Christ Community Church of Philadelphia, you feel the presence of God! When you enter the doors…read moreof the Church you're greeted with love, and Pastor E is anointed! If you're looking for a house of worship, CCCof Philadelphia is the place to be!

I went for the 1st time this past Sunday and was received with open arms, literally. I was greeted…read moreat the door with a hug and also received a welcoming gift after the service. Service wasn't too long and I felt the message was easy for anyone to understand. I liked that a collection plate wasn't passed around several times during service and was saved until the end. I was unaware that there was a parking lot on the side of the building, so I ended up paying at a meter and having to leave a few minutes before the service actually ended. I will be returning!!!

Love this church! Friendly and open community with a very active group for those in their 20s and…read more30s! They have a great LGBT group too and AMAZING music! I have only been in this city for a year and a half but this community really helped me plug in quickly.

I love this church. I found it on mlp.org, an LGBT-friendly Presbyterian organization, when I had…read morefirst moved to the city in summer 2010. I was going through a lot that summer, and I remember sitting in the stunning sanctuary listening to Rev. Huffstetler preaching and feeling this absolute peace settle over me. Rev. Garner is incredible - his sermons are full of the Spirit, rich with biblical and historical knowledge, and never make you feel like you have to check your brain at the door to be a good Christian. The young adult group is vibrant and multi-faceted. We hold Bible studies, luncheons, and parties, and our friendship extends past the church doors. The LGBT group is almost entirely men, and mostly 40+, but as a 20-something lesbian I can say that they are perfectly friendly and welcome to new members. We need a nudge in a missional direction as a group, but for friends you couldn't ask for more. Many of the members are heavily involved in community-based missions which make this church ideal for a person who wants to volunteer their time through faith-based endeavors. We help with Wintershelter (warm beds for the homeless), Manna (actually started here at First), The Other Carpenter (helping fix homes in low-income areas), and an annual mission trip to New Orleans every year after Katrina - as well as almost anything you can imagine. The music is beautiful, the sanctuary is gorgeous, the people are incredible, the mission is solid, the sermons are empowering, the social life is vibrant -- there is nothing I do not love about First Presbyterian Church. Please join us! You won't regret it.

After touring the historic Christ Burial Ground, The Mr. and I wanted to take a look at Christ…read moreChurch. Surprisingly they are not exactly close to each other, but the walk did us good. The Christ Church is not only packed with history but one of the most beautiful churches I've seen on our travels. That is saying a lot, because I've seen gorgeous churches all over Europe. This one is different because it has no stained glass. This is because the colonists were literate and didn't need the illustrations that stained glass provided for church goers to 'read' . The Palladian Chancel Window literally took my breath away. The guide told me that George Washington (who had a pew there) loved it so much, he had one installed in his dining room at Mount Vernon. Two different docents were on hand to converse with us, answer our questions, and share the historic details.

We happened to come when a piano student from The Curtis Institute was playing various Bach songs…read more It's a thrill to be here. See where Betsy Ross sat! Learn the history with a tour. There is a gift shop and absolutely wonderful welcoming tour guides and staff.

Now mind you, I've only been to the Saturday 12 noon services in the lower chapel, but I absolutely…read morelove it. Being that it's in Center City on a weekend afternoon, you can imagine the mix of people there... but that is how I like to believe heaven will be. They even sing! That's something generally unheard of for a weekday low mass. There is a lot of love and devotion, but with out that Holier than thou attitude. If you ever wondered what the church that Jesus set out to create was supposed to look like, check out St John the Evangelist.

I can't believe there was such a charming and well-kept church in the heart of the city. My wife…read moreand I came to the pre-Christmas mass and were surprised by the large crowd at 8:30am. The priest was fairly interactive and was providing opportunities to donate to the recent tragedies in Indonesia. The overall decor is quite impressive as well, with tall ceilings, stain glass windows and (in my opinion) overly bleached out pillars. The mass was also very efficient and we were on our merry way within the hour. This church is a must visit for anyone who lives in center city!

This church has a pastor on it that probably shouldn't be a pastor. They have multiple pastors…read more This one doesn't seem to operate in the fruit of the Spirit demonstrated terrible interpersonal skills. He also seemed to be manipulative and ignored what I said. So he didn't listen to me and didn't make me feel good about having that talk with him. This church could also use more of a biblical foundation on things. For those looking for a solid church, this doesn't look like it.

I didn't grow up in a Christian household, so walking into a church for the first time as an adult…read morefelt a little intimidating. But the moment I stepped through the doors of City Life Church, I was welcomed with warmth and kindness. I've been attending for two years now, and every visit continues to feel like coming home. It's a great place where I've met so many people and developed true friendships. It's a place where I feel seen, valued, and truly connected. I'm so grateful to be a part of it!

Went here when I was in college when I was 19-20, trying to find a church. I didn't last. Why? A…read moreman named Frank. He married his wife Tonya when he was 22 and she was 15. Nearly 40 years later, he still had a fancy for teens and tried to approach me. They were friendly at first, but I later learned Frank was trying to talk to me more and more without his wife. He even tried to get me to join the choir, which I declined. HE was in the choir - nothing but an excuse to spend more time with me. I told him that I wanted to distance myself because I did not feel the association was beneficial. He told me I was not leaving. The final straw came when that summer as the church let out, Frank saw me and made an extremely crude remark about my figure out loud in front of EVERYBODY. I looked around and other churchgoers were just going about their business. No one even cared! An old married so-called Christian man makes a horrible remark about a young female college student's figure in front of the church and no one cares. SICK! Church hurt is real, and it's because of people like Frank. Do better, people! Don't talk the Christian talk if you will not walk the Christian walk. REPENT!!

My friend and I were visiting from chicago and had a great time at this church. Worship and word…read morewas on point! Definitely coming back when I'm in town.