“Is this the right place?” someone asks. Yes this is Church of Christ. The Church of Christ has a story to tell. It is a story of faith and history. Pennsylvania’s founding charter ensured religious freedom. William Penn, a Quaker, allowed all faiths to practice here.
By the mid-1700s, Pennsylvania hosted many congregations. These included Lutherans, German Reformed, Presbyterians, and Quakers. Also included were Mennonites, Baptists, Anglican Episcopalians, Moravians, Roman Catholics, Methodists, and Jewish congregations. Many had churches in Philadelphia. Some early congregations are still active today. Only a few colonial church buildings remain.
Christ Church is a prime example. It stands as a testament to colonial Georgian architecture. This church is located in the heart of Old City. Christ Church was built in 1744. However the congregation dates back to 1695. Many Founding Fathers attended this church. These included George Washington, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin. Thirteen signers of the Declaration also worshipped here.
Its steeple made it the tallest building in North America. This lasted until 1856. Benjamin Franklin helped fundraise for it. Christ Church houses William Penn’s baptismal font. It was sent from England. Penn was originally baptized there before becoming a Quaker.
The chandelier has hung in the aisle since 1740. The interior has seen remodeling. But it has been restored to its original layout. Victorian-era stained glass was removed. The adjacent churchyard holds Bishop William White’s remains. Two signers of the Declaration are also buried here.
The church’s burial ground is a few blocks away. Benjamin and Deborah Franklin rest there. William Rush and four other Declaration signers are also buried here. After the revolution, Christ Church members led the establishment of the Episcopal Church. William White, Christ Church’s rector, became the first bishop. His home is now owned by the park service. It is occasionally open for tours.
Christ Church was the first parish of the Church of England in Pennsylvania. The American Episcopal Church was born here. The current building was built between 1727 and 1744. It transformed the church into a grand Georgian structure.
The interior is as impressive as the exterior. It features a baptismal font from the 1300s. The church in London where William Penn was baptized donated it. By 1758, the parish had grown. St. Peter’s Church was built.
When National Days of Prayer were declared, President Washington and legislative bodies attended Christ Church together. Christ Church members see their role as crucial. It serves as a beacon during contentious times. They worry about political divisions that the Founding Fathers feared.
One parishioner, Jeanette Morris, is concerned about health issues. She says nothing gets done in Washington because nobody can agree. She prays every Sunday for unity. Zack Biro, the executive director of the Christ Church Preservation Trust, said that Christ Church is a perfect example of weathering the storm.
On July 4, 1776, Christ Church’s vestry crossed out the king’s name from the Book of Common Prayer. This was a defiant act of potential treason. Some church members traded slaves. They are buried in the church yard near Declaration signers. One church member, Absalom Jones, was enslaved to a man serving in the church leadership. Jones bought his freedom. He became the first Black priest of the Episcopal Church.
The Church of Christ invites everyone to come and hear the word of God preached directly from the Holy Scriptures.