Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Old Saint Mary’s Church
About Old Saint Mary’s Church:
Built in 1763, this church pre-dated the Declaration of Independence by 13 years. On July 4, 1779, members of the Continental Congress attended the first public religious commemoration of the Declaration of Independence at Old Saint Mary’s. George Washington, though an Anglican, attended a Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving there on November 4, 1781 for victory over the British.
On February 22, 1800, the Congress met there for a memorial service for President Washington.
Old St. Mary Church became the first Cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Philadelphia in 1810. In 1838, as the population had grown, it was replaced by the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. The church remains an active parish and its beauty is inspiring.
Traveling to Old St. Mary’s Church in Philadelphia:
Address: 252 S. 4th Street Philadelphia, PA 19106
GPS coordinates: 39° 56′ 44.6316” N, 75° 8′ 54.4200” W
Tel: +1 (215) 923-7930
Click here for the official website of Old Saint Mary’s Church in Philadelphia.
Click here or a great video about Old Saint Mary’s, produced by “The Faithful Traveler”
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