Part I: Boston, Philadelphia, and New York
So there you are with a church or other faith-based group, and you are organizing a visit to one of America’s great tourist destination cities. Of course, everyone wants to see the major sites: historic buildings, skyscrapers, architectural treasures, museums, stadiums, stores, and restaurants. And of course, in every major city, there are religious sites. Some of the oldest buildings in any given American city are going to be churches, and many of these are historic treasures that are easily built in a tour schedule. But is it possible to build an itinerary for an entire day—or even multiple days—to visit only religious sites while continuing to keep your tour group engaged?
In many cities the answer is an unequivocal “absolutely”!
There are easily a dozen cities in the United States whose religious sites pack enough punch to build a great travel itinerary. Not surprisingly, most of these are clustered in the historical Colonial-era states of the Eastern Seaboard. In this article, we will explore three great American cities and how to get the most out of their religious history.
BOSTON
When it comes to early American history, the city that most easily comes to mind is Boston. And Boston, and its surrounding area, has some of America’s most treasured historic churches. And thanks to the city’s famous Freedom Trail, it is easy to incorporate many of these into a day’s comfortable-paced walk.
One-day itinerary (in town)
This may be the easiest faith-based day tour to organize anywhere in the United States, as it can be incorporated directly into a day on the Freedom Trail:
• King’s Chapel – Oldest Anglican parish in New England; many notables are interred in the burial ground
• Old South Meetinghouse – Organizing place for the Boston Tea Party
• St. Stephen’s Church – Catholic Church designed by Charles Bulfinch
• Old North Church – Used as a signal tower for Paul Revere’s Ride
One-day itinerary (out-of-town)
The following three-stop itinerary can be easily done in a short day, but it requires transportation (84 miles total round-trip driving distance from Boston):
• United First Parish Church in Quincy – Burial site of presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams
• Old Ship Church in Hingham – Oldest church in continuous use in the United States
• First Parish Church in Plymouth – Church Congregation founded by the Pilgrim Fathers
Add-on (out of town)
One additional church, a real treasure, is located to the north of Boston. It can be added to the second itinerary, but will make a longer day (76 miles additional driving):
• Old South Presbyterian Church in Newburyport – Home to an original Paul Revere bell as well as the displayed skull (!) of George Whitefield, a founder of the Methodist Church
PHILADELPHIA
As the birthplace of American democracy, Philadelphia has deep religious roots, with some of the nation’s oldest and most significant religious sites. Many of these played key roles in early American history, abolitionism, and the development of religious freedom. A well-planned itinerary can provide a broad look at the city’s diverse religious heritage.
One-day itinerary (in town)
This itinerary highlights some of Philadelphia’s most historical houses of worship, all within a reasonable walking distance in the city center:
• Christ Church – Colonial-era Episcopal church was attended by many of America’s Founding Fathers
• Gloria Dei Church – Oldest church in Pennsylvania and a reminder of the city’s Swedish colonial past
• Mother Bethel AME Church – Founding church of the African Methodist Episcopal denomination
• Mikveh Israel Synagogue – Home to one of the oldest Jewish congregations in the U.S.
• St. George’s United Methodist Church – The oldest Methodist church in continuous use in America
Half-day itinerary (in town)
This half-day itinerary focuses on Philadelphia’s Catholic heritage:
• Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul – Mother church of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
• National Shrine of St. John Neumann – Grave of St. John Neumann, an American Catholic saint.
One-day itinerary (out-of-town)
Some of Pennsylvania’s oldest and most historical churches need transportation to reach but are absolutely worth the effort (75 miles total round-trip driving distance from Philadelphia):
• Germantown Mennonite Church – Oldest Mennonite congregation in North America
• Merion Friends Meeting House in Merion Station – One of the oldest Quaker meetinghouses in the country
• Augustus Lutheran Church in Trappe – Oldest unchanged Lutheran church building in America
NEW YORK
As impressive as Boston and Philadelphia’s religious sites are, it is hard to top New York City for the sheer number of mind-blowing churches and synagogues. There are easily two dozen worth visiting in the five boroughs alone, and many more in the outlying counties. Here are just a few amazing itineraries to inspire:
One-day itinerary (Downtown Manhattan)
This itinerary focuses on Lower Manhattan’s oldest and most historically significant churches, many of which date back to the city’s Colonial past:
• Trinity Church – Iconic Episcopal church with an historic cemetery, where Alexander Hamilton is buried
• St. Paul’s Church – Oldest surviving church building in Manhattan; George Washington prayed here
• St. Peter’s Church – First Catholic church in New York, dating to 1785
• Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral – Original seat of the Archdiocese of New York
• Shrine of Elizabeth Ann Seton – Former home of America’s first canonized saint
One-day itinerary (Midtown Manhattan)
Midtown Manhattan is home to some of the city’s most famous churches and synagogues, known for their architecture and historical importance:
• Marble Collegiate Church – Historic congregation associated with Norman Vincent Peale.
• Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church – A prominent Presbyterian church with deep ties to New York’s history
• St. Patrick’s Cathedral – Grand Gothic Revival cathedral, possibly the most visited church in America
• Central Synagogue – Moorish Revival synagogue, home to one of the city’s oldest Jewish congregations
• Temple Emanu-El – One of the largest synagogues in the world and a leading center of Reform Judaism
One-day itinerary (Uptown Manhattan)
Upper Manhattan features some of the largest churches in the United States, as well as an art museum that is housed in a partially reconstituted medieval French abbey:
• Cathedral of St. John the Divine – One of the largest churches in the world, still under construction
• Riverside Church – A towering interdenominational church known for its history of notable speakers
• The Cloisters – A branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art showcasing medieval art and architecture in a monastery-like setting
One-day itinerary (out-of-town)
For those willing to venture beyond the city, these historical churches provide a glimpse into New York State’s early religious history (160 miles total round-trip driving distance from Manhattan):
• Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow – A 17th-century church closely associated with Washington Irving
• Old Cadet Chapel of West Point – Oldest surviving chapel at any American military academy
• Crispell Memorial French Church of New Paltz – A reconstructed 17th-century church built by Huguenots
These are just a few suggestions for religious sightseeing itineraries set in the northeastern United States. Whether your tour groups are looking for a bit of history, architectural inspiration, or just a spiritual experience, these sacred destinations—and many others—are waiting to welcome you.
Howard Kramer, an NTA affiliate member who spoke at Travel Exchange ’17 in San Antonio, is the author of The Complete American Pilgrim: Guide to 250 of the most sacred, historic and beautiful religious sites in the United States.
Top image: The Cloisters – ©Adobe Stock/travelview
