Faith and Democracy and the Legacy of the First Prayer in Congress

This September marks the 250th anniversary of prayer in Congress.

What role should faith play in American democracy today?

Nine faith leaders from Philadelphia’s most historic Christian, Jewish, and Muslim congregations will discuss and debate prayer and religion in American government and civic culture in a one-night-only event in Philadelphia’s historic district.

Organized by Carpenters’ Hall, the site of the First Continental Congress in 1774, and held in American Philosophical Society’s Benjamin Franklin Hall, this rare gathering marks the historic anniversary of Rev. Jacob Duche’s rousing 1774 invocation, a moment that set a precedent for prayer in Congress that continues to this day.

Bonus event: On Saturday, September 7 at 11:00 a.m., Carpenters’ Hall will host a free public reading of the original prayer on its actual 250th anniversary.

The series helps commemorate the 250th anniversary of Carpenters’ Hall and The First Continental Congress, and the 300th anniversary of The Carpenters’ Company of The City and County of Philadelphia.