One Joyful Choir - John Gloucester House

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Sponsor One Joyful Choir	About The John Gloucester House The John Gloucester House provides help and direct services to the Point Breeze community as it ministers to residents under the direction of an executive director who is aided by a food services director, after school director, adult computer literacy director, and summer camp director. JGH benefits from the strength of its namesake, John Gloucester. Nicknamed Jack, Gloucester was born a slave in eastern Tennessee. He was purchased by a white Presbyterian minister, Gideon Blackburn, who saw young Jack's potential as a man of God. As Blackburn's personal servant, Gloucester received religious training and eventually was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Union in Tennessee. He later returned to the presbytery to be ordained. Gloucester began his ministry in Philadelphia in 1807 when Dr. Archibald Alexander, pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church and chairman of the Evangelical Society of Philadelphia, prevailed upon Blackburn for Gloucester's services in starting a church. As the first African American Presbyterian pastor in Philadelphia, John Gloucester founded the First African Presbyterian Church at Girard Avenue and 42nd Street. He was able to purchase freedom for his wife and four sons, all of whom attended Princeton University. Today the John Gloucester House follows this pioneer in ministry. Current programs include: ��a College Access Program (6 participants), Head Start Learning Tree (114 students), After School Tutorial Program (37 participants), The Colors of Point Breeze After School Web Club, Mentoring Program, Summer City Day Camp (29 participants), Vacation Bible School, Fifty Plus Club (15 participants), Habitat for Humanity Project, Adult Computer Literacy/Job Readiness Course, Bible Study, Mid-week Worship Services (48 participants), Pastoral Counseling, and a Happy Birthday Jesus Party (177 participants). In 2006, JGH served a total of 7,619 meals through its soup kitchen, after school program, summer camp, Community Thanksgiving Dinner, and Happy Birthday Jesus Party. One thousand forty families were provided with a month��s worth of groceries from the JGH cupboard through the food referral bags, emergency food bags, and SHARE program. JGH also distributed 64 turkey baskets at Thanksgiving.

About The John Gloucester House

The John Gloucester House provides help and direct services to the Point Breeze community as it ministers to residents under the direction of an executive director who is aided by a food services director, after school director, adult computer literacy director, and summer camp director.

JGH benefits from the strength of its namesake, John Gloucester. Nicknamed Jack, Gloucester was born a slave in eastern Tennessee. He was purchased by a white Presbyterian minister, Gideon Blackburn, who saw young Jack's potential as a man of God. As Blackburn's personal servant, Gloucester received religious training and eventually was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Union in Tennessee. He later returned to the presbytery to be ordained.

Gloucester began his ministry in Philadelphia in 1807 when Dr. Archibald Alexander, pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church and chairman of the Evangelical Society of Philadelphia, prevailed upon Blackburn for Gloucester's services in starting a church. As the first African American Presbyterian pastor in Philadelphia, John Gloucester founded the First African Presbyterian Church at Girard Avenue and 42nd Street. He was able to purchase freedom for his wife and four sons, all of whom attended Princeton University.

Today the John Gloucester House follows this pioneer in ministry. Current programs include: ��a College Access Program (6 participants), Head Start Learning Tree (114 students), After School Tutorial Program (37 participants), The Colors of Point Breeze After School Web Club, Mentoring Program, Summer City Day Camp (29 participants), Vacation Bible School, Fifty Plus Club (15 participants), Habitat for Humanity Project, Adult Computer Literacy/Job Readiness Course, Bible Study, Mid-week Worship Services (48 participants), Pastoral Counseling, and a Happy Birthday Jesus Party (177 participants).

In 2006, JGH served a total of 7,619 meals through its soup kitchen, after school program, summer camp, Community Thanksgiving Dinner, and Happy Birthday Jesus Party. One thousand forty families were provided with a month��s worth of groceries from the JGH cupboard through the food referral bags, emergency food bags, and SHARE program. JGH also distributed 64 turkey baskets at Thanksgiving.