[1] The church was founded in November 1903,[1] with construction completed in 1909,[2] and was intended to serve the large Polish American immigrant community residing in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia.

Immigrant families, including that of Andrew Bogielczyk, who owned a grocery store at 2421 Allegheny Avenue which was a meeting place for the Polish community, became founding members for the then large sum of $25.00 needed to start construction.

Once construction of Saint Adalbert Church was completed, Mass was said in Latin with the sermon and non-Mass activities conducted in the Polish language.

[9] There were 545 students in the merged school in 2008, but the continued economic malaise resulted in declining enrollments.

All of the teaching was provided for by the Catholic nuns of the order of Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth who wore long black robes with a stiff pleated white bib-like collar.

[3] St. Adalbert continues to serve the varied Port Richmond community, celebrating Mass in both English and Polish.