Christ Church - The Nation's Church

Photo: PVSBond; cropped by Beyond My Ken (talk) 02:26, 19 March, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)

A stop on Philadelphia Independence Walk, a free self-guided tour.

Look up at the tall white steeple. Christ Church was founded in 1695 as a Church of England parish, and the brick building you see was finished in 1744. When its steeple was completed in 1754, it made this the tallest structure in the American colonies, a title it held for decades.

Many of the Revolution's leaders sat in these pews. George Washington and John Adams worshipped here while Philadelphia was the capital, and so did Benjamin Franklin. Betsy Ross was a member too, and you can see where she sat.

After independence, an Anglican church faced a problem: its priests had sworn loyalty to the king. Leaders met here to form the Episcopal Church, an American church free of the crown. The rector of Christ Church, William White, became one of its first bishops.

Step inside if it's open, and notice the tall arched windows that flood the room with light.

Getting here: From Franklin Court, walk east on Market Street to 2nd Street and turn left; Christ Church is just ahead on your left.

Did you know?: The church's steeple, about 196 feet tall, remained the tallest structure in North America until 1810.

Photo op: Cross 2nd Street and look up to frame the full white steeple above the brick church.

More on Wikipedia: Christ Church · William White · Episcopal Church

Christ Church - The Nation's Church

Stops on this tour