Our History

About the deacon

Located in the Graduate Hospital neighborhood of Philadelphia, The Deacon is an innovative multi-use space housed in a historic building and reimagined with modern amenities. With minimalist design touches and Bauhaus-influenced features, our space meticulously and thoughtfully pairs old and new. The dynamic setting, encourages creativity, connection, and collaboration, offering each guest a memorable experience.

A black-and-white sketch of a wooden staircase with railings, viewed from below and to the side.
A spacious living and dining room with high vaulted ceiling, stained glass window, and modern decor. Features include a brown leather sofa, a small wooden coffee table with books, potted plants, a large white dining table with white chairs, and framed artwork on teal walls.
Exterior view of the First African Baptist Church with a stone facade, arched doorway, and church sign on a pole nearby, with a city street and traffic lights in the background, partially covered by tree leaves.

Photo by Melissa Romero

Photo by Melissa Romero

Stone church entrance with a wooden door, red trim, and stained glass windows above. Front steps are damaged with broken stones and debris.
Interior of a church under renovation with scaffolding, construction materials, and stained glass windows.

The Deacon is located within the Former First African Baptist Church, a gothic revival-style church built in 1906. For more than 110 years, the church was a hub for the Black community and the South Philadelphia neighborhood once known as Moyamensing. It hosted luminaries including Booker T. Washington, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr, and Thurgood Marshall, but its small scale endeavors were no less important. Clubs and community organizations like the Busy Bee Society, Flower Club, Mutual Aid Society, and Cherry Memorial Athletic Club all thrived at the church for decades, doing everything from helping elderly neighbors to making sure the church’s paint job stayed fresh. 

Our goal is to maintain the tradition of the space as a hub of the community: a place for celebration, congregation, and education where all are welcome, and everyone feels at home. A circa-1906, Watson & Huckel-designed church was reimagined in 2019, as an invisible service hotel and event space offering a unique, thoughtfully-curated guest experience, designed for a diverse set of occasions, gatherings, and creative projects.

The Deacon is a place to discover and make your own. Whether with friends, colleagues or family, you won’t want to leave.

Black and white outline map of the island of Madagascar with no additional details.
STAY
Illustration of a pastel green ribbon banner with multiple folds, flowing horizontally.
CELEBRATE
Silhouette of a person with a hat and a dog, both facing to the right.
WORK
A brown ribbon or strip curled in a wave pattern
EXPERIENCE