Paul Washington was born in Charleston, South Carolina on May 26 1921. He attended the well-known Avery Institute, which prepared him for his entry to Lincoln University. He graduated from the Philadelphia Divinity School of the Episcopal Church. He did his pastoral work at the Church of The Crucifixion at 8th Bainbridge Streets in South Philadelphia, where he met his lovely wife to be and soul mate-his Little Christine.

Immediately after marriage, this young couple on the move went to Liberia as missionaries doing the work of God. There, Father Washington helped found Cuttington College, which went on to educate many African leaders. For a period of time Father Paul was it’s acting president. The couple returned to Philadelphia in 1954. In 1962, Father Paul was made rector at the Church of The Advocate.

During his 25 years at the Advocate, he was recognized as one of the key leaders of the black power movement. When there was nowhere else for gatherings to be held, it was known by all that Father Paul would allow them to meet at the Advocate. He hosted the National Black Power Conference in 1968. Two years later he hosted the Convention of the Black Panther Party. Huey Newton was one of the speakers. In 1971, the Church of The Advocate was the site for the rally to raise money for the Angela Davis Defense Fund.

The 1970”s also marked Father Paul’s and the Advocate’s increasing involvement in another area of inequality-the role of women in the Episcopal Church. In 1974, Father Paul participated in the ordination of the first 11 women into priesthood. Although the ordination was highly controversial, this event marked a new era for both the Episcopal Church and the Church of The Advocate. He was widely known and revered. At the request of then-Attorney General Ramsey Clark, Father Paul participated in the international peace conference in Iran that was forbidden by the U.S. government. He was honored far and wide.

During his years at the Advocate, Father Paul served as Episcopal Chaplin at Eastern State Penitentiary. He served on the Move Commission established by then-Mayor Wilson Goode and was the chaplain of the Advocate Communities Development Corporation’s (ACDC) Board of Directors. He continued to serve ACDC until the fall of 1998. ACDC was established by his wife and constructed multimillion-dollar projects, rehab and new construction for those in need. Over 400 units of housing have been added to the North Philadelphia community.

Father Paul departed this life on Oct. 7, 2002, survived by his wife, one daughter, three sons, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. At his resurrection service more than 1,000 people attended-equal parts black and white, rich and poor, conservative and liberal, straight and gay, men and women, community and establishment. His love reached out to all.