Father Joseph A. Wallace-Williams Becomes First Black, Openly Gay Rector Of The Church Of Saint Luke & The Epiphany

By Howard Monroe, CBS Philadelphia

March 6, 2022

A historically white episcopal church in Center City has its first-ever Black rector. Father Joseph A. Wallace-Williams was installed Saturday morning as the ninth rector of The Church of Saint Luke and The Epiphany.

But being the first Black rector isn’t the only barrier he’s breaking.

Father Wallace-Williams is the first Black and first openly gay leader of the church. It’s a position that he says he never thought he’d be in.

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