Center City East in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Christ Church

Independence National Historical Park

— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —

Christ Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 25, 2026

1. Christ Church Marker

Inscription.

Christ Church. Independence National Historical Park. , Soaring nearly 200 feet above you, Christ Church's wooden steeple beckoned early travelers to Philadelphia and served as a familiar landmark to residents. Built between 1727 and 1754, originally as a parish of the Church of England, Christ Church has witnessed the growth of Philadelphia from a colonial town to amodern city of millions., In the 1770s representatives to the Continental congress worshipped alongside local artisans and laborers. As the question of independence from Great Britain intensified, the clergy faced undertainty, honor their ordination oath to "bear faith and true allegiance to the King's Highness" or sever ties with the Church of England. The clergy, congregation, and colony stood divided., Through many of these tumultuous years, Rector William White guided the congregation through the revolution into the new republic. After the war, White led the effort to establish the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America., For almost three cneturies Christ Church's congregation has worshipped in the building before you. Although it is part of Independence National Historical Park, Christ Church remains independent. The church continues to serve the neighborhood as an active Episcopal congregation.,

"Whereas the honorable Continental Congress have resolved to declare the American Colonies to be free and independent States … it will be proper to omit those Petitions in the Liturgy wherein the King of Great Britain is preayed for." , Christ Church Vestry Minutes, July 4, 1776.

, [Captions:] , William White , The Reverend William White served as rector of Christ Church and chaplain to the Continental Congress. In 1787 he was the second bishop consecrated for the Episcopal Church in the United States and the first bishop in Pennsylvania., Bishop William White by Charles Willson Peale, 1788, Independence National Historical Park, The steeple of Christ Church graced the Philadelphia skyline. This 1778 engraving shows the city as seen from the New Jersey side of the Delaware River., An East Perspective of the City of Philadelphia. Print made by J. Carwitham after George Heap, Yale Center for British Art

Soaring nearly 200 feet above you, Christ Church's wooden steeple beckoned early travelers to Philadelphia and served as a familiar landmark to residents. Built between 1727 and 1754, originally as a parish of the Church of England, Christ Church has witnessed the growth of Philadelphia from a colonial town to amodern city of millions.

In the 1770s representatives to the Continental congress worshipped alongside local artisans and laborers. As the question of independence from Great Britain intensified, the clergy faced undertainty—honor their ordination oath to "bear faith and true allegiance to the King's Highness" or sever ties with the Church of England. The clergy, congregation, and colony stood divided.

Through many of these tumultuous years, Rector William White guided the congregation through the revolution into the new republic. After the war, White led the effort to establish the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America.

For almost three cneturies Christ Church's congregation has worshipped in the building before you. Although it is part of Independence National Historical Park, Christ

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Church remains independent. The church continues to serve the neighborhood as an active Episcopal congregation.

"Whereas the honorable Continental Congress have resolved to declare the American Colonies to be free and independent States … it will be proper to omit those Petitions in the Liturgy wherein the King of Great Britain is preayed for."
Christ Church Vestry Minutes, July 4, 1776

[Captions:]
William White
The Reverend William White served as rector of Christ Church and chaplain to the Continental Congress. In 1787 he was the second bishop consecrated for the Episcopal Church in the United States and the first bishop in Pennsylvania.

Bishop William White by Charles Willson Peale, 1788, Independence National Historical Park

The steeple of Christ Church graced the Philadelphia skyline. This 1778 engraving shows the city as seen from the New Jersey side of the Delaware River.

An East Perspective of the City of Philadelphia. Print made by J. Carwitham after George Heap, Yale Center for British Art

Erected 2026 by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics and series. This historical

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 25, 2026

2. Christ Church Marker

marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Religion & Religious Structures • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 4, 1776.

Location. 39° 57.031′ N, 75° 8.646′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Center City East. It is on Church Street west of North 2nd Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 221 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19106, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania. It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Christ Church Fence (a few steps from this marker); Christ Church Timeline (a few steps

<i>Christ Church, Philadelphia</i> image. Click for full size.

Postcard published by the Detroit Photographic Co., circa 1901

3. Christ Church, Philadelphia

from this marker); The First Bell (a few steps from this marker); The Original Eight Bells in this Church (a few steps from this marker); James Wilson (a few steps from this marker); Resting Place of Seven Signers of the Declaration of Independence (within shouting distance of this marker); Branch Office of the State Bank of Camden, N.J. (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Christ Church (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Christ Church (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 25, 2017

4. Christ Church Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 29, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 29, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on August 3, 2017. 4. submitted on July 31, 2017, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.