Touch Up

Frank Kenny repaints steeple 
on Pennsylvania’s oldest church

Steeplejack Frank Kenny prepares to repaint the steeple at Historic Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church, 916 S. Swanson Street, Philadelphia. It’s the oldest church in Pennsylvania. Photo by Jim Murphy, author of Real Philly History, Real Fast.

On a sweltering summer day recently, I set out to learn a little about what it takes to be a steeplejack.

I arranged to meet with employees of Ev-Air-Tight Calking Co./Jack Hassler Steeplejack Co., who are involved in repainting the steeple and belfry at Historic Gloria Dei (Old Swedes) Church, 916 S. Swanson Street, Philadelphia.

Consecrated in 1700, Gloria Dei is the oldest church in Pennsylvania. This is its first upper-exterior repainting since 1999.

From the ground, I watched Frank Kenny prepare and paint the wood above the roof line, while carefully using ladders, ropes and safety lines. I spoke with his brother John, who handles the company’s business operations.

Some tidbits:

• Frank has done steeple work at Christ Church, St. Peter’s Church on Pine Street and Independence Hall.

• You never know what you are going to see when you mount the ladder.

• One big surprise: a large owl’s nest in a steeple that had to be removed — very carefully. It’s not unusual to find bird carcasses up there.

A generous $65,000 matching Keystone Historic Preservation Grant made the repainting and repairs to the church and Parish Hall possible, says Candace Roberts, former chair of the board of Historic Gloria Dei Preservation Corporation. She stepped down from that position in June 2022.

Thanking John for his time in the extreme heat, and wondering how long Frank would be able to keep going on this steamy day, I walked back to my townhome, sweating profusely. I felt very grateful I wasn’t climbing steeples, just writing about them.