Bishop Jessie McClay, founder of New Hope Church of Deliverance, dies at 103 Valerie Russ, The Philadelphia Inquirer
People We’ve LostBishop Jessie McClay103 years oldLived in South PhiladelphiaFor years he owned his own dry cleaners and worked as a tailor, before becoming full-time clergymanBishop Jessie McClay told his family he received a message from God, urging him to close his dry-cleaning business and convert it into a church.
God told him: “You are cleaning clothes, but now, I want you to clean souls,” his son said.
So in 1967, Bishop McClay closed the dry cleaners he operated as Jessie and Sons, at 1300 S. 22nd St. and started the New Hope of Deliverance Church.