Sacred Places

UWISHUNU philly from the inside out

February 8, 2012

Penn Hosts #21 Harvard This Friday Night At The Palestra
Morris Arboretum To Celebrate Tu B’Shevat With A Special Family Day This Sunday, February 12
Philadelphia Native Kevin Bacon To Appear At The Kimmel Center For A Candid Talk On Wednesday, February 15
Route 6 To Host A Special Beer Dinner, March 7; Reservations Now Open
Madonna To Open Her 2012 North American Tour In Philadelphia On August 28 at the Wells Fargo Center
Valentine’s Day Takes Over 13th Street With Deals And Offerings From Valerie Safran And Chef Marcie Turney’s Six Boutiques And Restaurants
Bruce Springsteen’s Corvette Arrives At The National Constitution Center In Advance Of The Blockbuster Exhibition’s Debut Next Week
Positano Coast Reprises Its Five-Course, $55 Tasting Menu For Two
Lucky Magazine Names Philadelphia One Of The 25 Best Cities For Shopping In The U.S.
Act II Playhouse Presents Broadway Drama Time Stands Still, On Stage February 14-March 11

February 7, 2012

One way to look at Philadelphia’s legacy of liberty is through its sacred places. Freedom to worship openly in a multi-faith community was rare in the early 1700s, even in America. William Penn, a Quaker who suffered persecution in England, considered religious freedom essential to civil liberty and wrote it into his 1701 Charter of Liberties for Philadelphia, the town he called his “Holy Experiment.”

Today, Philadelphia’s more than 800 houses of worship include the most “first churches” (within their denominations) in the country, and represent many different faiths, architectural styles and communities.

Featured Attraction

Bryn Athyn

Cathedral for the General Church of New Jerusalem (New Church)

The Church of New Jerusalem (New Church) was formed in England in the late 1700’s, to worship using the Old and New Testaments and Writings which interpret the Bible as parable (written by Swedish philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg). In the late 1800’s, a Philadelphia New Church congregation moved out of the city to Bryn Athyn. Principal patron John Pitcairn financed the construction of the Cathedral, which was dedicated in 1919.

Cathedral Basilica of
Saints Peter and Paul

The largest Catholic church in Pennsylvania More
Rodeph Shalom Synagogue

A 1920s-era architectural marvel and home to the Philadelphia Museum of Jewish Art More
The Woodlands Cemetery and Mansion

1840s cemetery and Federal-style mansion More
Philadelphia Cathedral

Episcopal Cathedral recalls 4th-century Christian basilica More
Laurel Hill and West Laurel Hill Cemeteries

Who’s who of deceased Philadelphia in a magnificent setting More

View All Sacred Places

Itineraries

A Weekend Is More Fun in Historic Philadelphia

Fuel your nightlife with modern flavor, history, food, cocktails and more More
A Weekend in Historic Philadelphia…on a Budget

In Historic Philadelphia, you’ll find plenty of places where prices haven’t changed much since our Founding Fathers were milling about town. More