Saint Hedwig Church in Chester, Delaware County, will close as a Roman Catholic church and cease to serve as a worship site for Sacred Heart Parish in Clifton Heights, according to an announcement from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The decision takes effect on January 1, 2026.

The Archdiocese stated that Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez has approved the relegation of the Saint Hedwig church building to "profane but not sordid use," which means the structure will no longer be used for religious purposes. Parishioners were informed of this development during Masses at Sacred Heart Parish over the weekend. The official canonical decree regarding this decision is available online: https://catholicphilly.com/media-files/2025/11/Hedwig-White.pdf

"The formal request to close a place of worship typically originates from the pastor of the parish, together with his parish pastoral and finance councils after joint study and consultation. The request is then reviewed by the Archdiocesan Council of Priests and presented to Archbishop Pérez, who, after a careful review of all supporting factors, makes the final decision," said the Archdiocese.

Saint Hedwig Church had served Polish Catholics since its founding and was under Sacred Heart Parish’s care following its suppression as a parish in 1993. In recent years, providing ongoing pastoral care became more difficult for clergy due to increased responsibilities after Sacred Heart Parish partnered with Saint Charles Borromeo in Drexel Hill in 2016.

Financial difficulties also contributed to the closure. In August 2023, Saint Hedwig's boiler failed with replacement costs estimated at $60,000. After consulting congregants about these challenges and ongoing financial shortfalls—despite their generous contributions—the pastor petitioned for relegation later that year. Regular Sunday worship at Saint Hedwig Church has been suspended since December 31, 2023.

In June 2025, additional documentation supporting the petition was submitted according to archdiocesan policy. This included financial reports for both churches and letters from parish council members endorsing closure due to insufficient resources for necessary repairs and operations.

While property adjacent to Saint Hedwig Church was sold in January 2025 to help address budget deficits at Sacred Heart Parish, these funds are expected only to partially offset regular operating losses.

Saint Hedwig’s is located within territory now served by Saint Katharine Drexel Parish in Chester; many former members already attend services at nearby parishes such as Saint Thomas the Apostle in Glen Mills and Saint Joseph in Aston.

The future use or disposition of the church building will be determined by Sacred Heart’s pastor alongside parish councils according to church law and archdiocesan guidelines.