In mid-November 2023, Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary & Graduate School students and professors ventured through the city of Philadelphia on a seven-mile walking tour to explore the complex history of the American Church. Director of Library Services and Church Historian Dr. Mark Draper led the tour with LBC | Capital professor David Lingham (’12 & ’25) and explained to students the colonial, political and religious developments of the Black Church in America.
“On the tour, we walked in the footsteps of Revivalist George Whitefield, one of the founders of the evangelical movement who preached open air sermons on Philadelphia streets, as well as Richard Allen, founder of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church,” said Draper.
The tour highlighted the founding of evangelicalism during the First Great Awakening and the sad reality that African-Americans were forced to create their own churches and denominations due to discrimination. Even in the church setting, they were not treated with dignity.
“Many churches in America made African-Americans sit in segregated seating,” explained Draper.
One of Draper’s favorite places in Philadelphia—the intersection of Second and Market streets—reflects the complex story of Christianity and America in one block.
“It is where George Whitefield preached in the market, and Ben Franklin also mentioned in his autobiography how he attended the meeting and walked around the city to see how far away Whitefield could be heard,” Draper said. “Directly down the street from the market where Whitefield preached was the London coffee shop and slave trade.”
Draper’s hope was that students could learn more about the complex history of the church in Philadelphia and create an awareness of the country’s tattered past.
The Saturday tour began at Front Market and wove through the Olde City section of Philadelphia. It ended at Mother Bethel Church, the founding church of the first black denomination in America—AME.
Several other historic landmarks were also explored, as the students and faculty also enjoyed traditional Philly cheesesteaks for lunch. More than 30 students and staff attended the impactful event alongside Draper’s co-leaders, College Pastor Rev. Timothy Torres and LBC | Capital Site Director Dr. Tanya Solomon.
