The Project ventures back into the suburbs! Admittedly it’s not much of a journey, since Rockledge’s Holy Nativity lies literally two blocks past Philly’s Fox Chase section. You won’t hear the Project complaining, though. After going (it seems) to the ends of the earth and back again—and, occasionally, South Philly as well—I’m overjoyed to have a church that doesn’t require a road trip of epic proportions.
Holy Nativity is a sterling example of that rare suburban church: an ancient, well-constructed, passionately-crafted edifice that does its best to counter the soulless and sprawled architecture common to newer suburbs. It’s a handsome cruciform gothic church that’s notable for its white castle-like trim and highly prominent tower. (Complete with gargoyles!)
Inside, we get a design that, like a lot of Protestant churches, relies on plainer plaster and wood. But here it’s supplemented by some really nice touches: a couple of intricate stone pulpits, a great altar section, a nifty baptismal alcove in the back, and some richly detailed stained glass—a rose window, a large altar backdrop and an especially nice nave set.
Sure, the plaster job doesn’t do a whole lot, and the clerestory and transept windows are probably the plainest I’ve ever seen. (You won’t see pictures of them, because I feared they’d break my camera if I tried.) Still, though, I think this is my favorite Protestant church. Not because everything it does is stellar, but because it’s a more complete church, top to bottom, than the others.
LOOK FOR IT: One of the nave windows was dedicated to the parish after World War II. It’s the one to the left of the plaque on the right side of the church.
How the $#%@ do I get in here? It’s actually pretty easy here. Nativity uses the tower as their prominent façade, but there are conveniently located doors on both sides near the back of the church.
I like it!
Size Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Ornamentation Rating: 8 out of 10
Overall Design Rating: 8 out of 10 crosses
