Smithfield, Virginia St. Luke’s Church in Smithfield, Virginia is generally recognized as the oldest Protestant church in the United States and, by extension, the New World. Erected in the early- to mid-1600s, it outlasted the handful of churches that preceeded it in the first English colonies of Massachusetts and Virginia. Only the San Miguel Mission in New Mexico is … [Read more...]
MOUNT OLIVET CEMETERY
Baltimore, Maryland The Mount Olivet Cemetery in Baltimore is the pre-eminent burial site for the Methodist Church in the United States, and perhaps the second most important graveyard for religious leaders after Princeton Cemetery in New Jersey. Among the notables interred here are numerous early church leaders and bishops, including luminaries such as Francis Asbury and … [Read more...]
ST. GEORGE’S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania While Barrat’s Chapel is the oldest purpose-built Methodist church in the United States, St. George’s United Methodist Church is actually an older building and is the oldest continually active Methodist congregation in the country. St. George’s also enjoys an important historical distinction: it ordained the first African-American ministers in the … [Read more...]
AMISH HERITAGE SITES OF PENNSYLVANIA
Lancaster, Pennsylvania America has had a long tradition of idealistic religious groups attempting to establish Christian utopian communities, a tradition which goes back to the Puritans of 17th century Massachusetts. Most such communities have ended in obscurity or even disaster, though a few have been successful. In the end, virtually all of those that survived have … [Read more...]
HOLY TRINITY CHURCH
Wilmington, Delaware The Holy Trinity Church of Wilmington, also known as the Old Swedes Church, is the oldest Lutheran-built church still standing in the United States. It may well also be the oldest American church in continuous use, or at least may be the oldest church still used as a church. Although acquired by the Episcopal denomination in the late 18th century, it … [Read more...]
THIRD HAVEN MEETING HOUSE
Talbot, Maryland The Third Haven Meeting House was one of the first meeting houses of the Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers, to be built in America, and the oldest to survive. It is also the oldest church in Maryland, and one of the oldest churches in continuous use in the United States. Despite several substantial renovations, large portions of the original meeting … [Read more...]
PRINCETON CEMETERY
Princeton, New Jersey Princeton Cemetery is one of America’s most famous burial grounds, the resting place of presidents and high governmental officials, generals, scientists, the rich and famous, and a good number of America’s most prominent early religious leaders and theologians. Among the more famous are Aaron Burr Sr., father of the third Vice President, and John … [Read more...]
FAIRFIELD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Fairton, New Jersey The Fairfield Presbyterian Church in Fairton, New Jersey is one of the most historic Presbyterian churches in the United States. Although not the first Presbyterian congregation in America, it predates the American Revolution and is the oldest Presbyterian church in use in the United States, ranking it among the other important early Reformed churches in … [Read more...]
BARRATT’S CHAPEL
Frederica, Delaware Barratt’s Chapel is the oldest Methodist Church still in use in the United States. Although Methodism was introduced to America first in Georgia by John Wesley, some refer to Barratt’s Chapel as the Cradle of Methodism, in part because of its age but also in part due to post-Revolutionary events that transpired there. It was built and named by and after … [Read more...]
