After touring the historic Christ Burial Ground, The Mr. and I wanted to take a look at Christ Church. Surprisingly they are not exactly close to each other, but the walk did us good. The Christ Church is not only packed with history but one of the most beautiful churches I've seen on our travels. That is saying a lot, because I've seen gorgeous churches all over Europe. This one is different because it has no stained glass. This is because the colonists were literate and didn't need the illustrations that stained glass provided for church goers to 'read' . The Palladian Chancel Window literally took my breath away. The guide told me that George Washington (who had a pew there) loved it so much, he had one installed in his dining room at Mount Vernon. Two different docents were on hand to converse with us, answer our questions, and share the historic details. read more

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We happened to come when a piano student from The Curtis Institute was playing various Bach songs. It's a thrill to be here. See where Betsy Ross sat! Learn the history with a tour. There is a gift shop and absolutely wonderful welcoming tour guides and staff. read more

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Good stuff you get to sit in George Washington and John Adams pew. Also Benny Franklin's and Betsy Ross'. Cool stuff if you like history

Visiting Christ Church reminded me of visiting Westminster Abbey when I was in London. Obviously not in size, but in the manner of how the building and grounds were used. There are important figures that are entombed within the building as well as the grounds outside. Before I go too far, let me get this out of the way. Yes, there is an admission price to enter. There are technically two prices. One is for admission to just the church and grounds. And the other is for admission to the church as well as the burial ground a few blocks away (to note, you can buy the admission to the burial ground when you go there if you do not want to visit this church). After entering you can go about on your own. View whatever you want and in the timeframe you like. I did eavesdrop a bit on one of the tour guides as I was going about my way. You do learn a lot more that way as they are very knowledgeable about the history of the church. If I remember correctly there is a pew in here that was dedicated to the King of England, but never utilized as such. There are several pews throughout the building that you can take note with. They are easily recognizable as each of them have a plague of some sort. Those that are notable are George Washington, Penn Family (as in the founders of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania), and Benjamin Franklin to name a few. This church has also been visited by many important political figures throughout the years. The grounds outside are beautifully maintained and a great place to take a break. There are some notable people buried within the grounds and the rest of the burial grounds are a few blocks away. read more

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I stopped here with the purpose of buying admission to the cemetery but really got more than what I had bargained for. The cemetery was closed the day of my visit due to wet pavement from the heavy rains. Instead they offered me a tour of the church. I didn't have the time to take a full tour but noticed in their gift shop they were selling the book "Ben and me." I had been after that book for sometime and the church saleslady who helped me out told me that "Amos" the original mouse in the storybook was actually found here off the right side of the nave. I purchased the book, told her that I was from Pittsburgh and she replied, "this church has Pittsburgh connections." Sure enough she asked me to follow her down the nave of the church and over to the left of the altar is a large plaque dedicated to John Forbes. Forbes was a British general whom among his other accomplishments ordered the construction of Fort Pitt which has undergone many renovations and the current structure is located in Point State Park in Pittsburgh where the 3 rivers meet. Forbes died in Phila of stomach cancer and dysentery but Pittsburgh honors his memory with Forbes Ave-A major city street. She then took me to Ben Franklin's pew asked me to sit down while she told me fascinating stories about the man and answered all my questions regarding some of the monuments I had seen along the way honoring Dr. Franklin. She did tell me that there were some notable graves behind the church but time did not permit to stop over there. I must admit this is a fascinating church and am glad I had an opportunity to visit it. It is a beautiful and fully functioning Episcopal church in Phila and definitely worth a visit. Tours are minimum cost. Definitely call this church if you do wish to purchase admission to the cemetery since the cemetery is about 3-4 blocks away. Hopefully I will make it back here to see the other founding fathers including George Washington. read more

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For a fee you can go in the church and see where some of the Founders worshipped. It's a beautiful sanctuary. It does not take very long to see, maybe 10 minutes. read more

Christ Church - Interior - Churches Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Brief update time: For better or worse as of May 1st Christ Church began charging a mandatory admission fee to visit the inside of the building versus in the past where the amount was only suggested. I'm not saying that the amount is a princely sum, but it is $5 per adult and $2 for children. That shouldn't be a turn off if you're considering a visit as you can clearly see where the money is going. They recently replaced their organ which no doubt cost a seven figure sum and now they are fundraising to fix issues with the 1750's era steeple which is has a 20+ inch lean. That is also going to necessitate a multi-million dollar fix. www.inquirer.com/news/christ-church-steeple-leaning-national-endowment-humanities-grants-20190328.html We didn't have as much time during our most recently visit last month to re-explore the grounds, inside and nearby burial grounds so we kept it simple and just went inside the church. If you come you really want to try and find Neil. He's the senior guide and historian and he offers a wealth of knowledge about any and everything related to the history of the building plus the area. It's impossible not to learn a ton of things when you talk with him. One of the other guides referred to him as a human encyclopedia and after two minutes with him you realize that's very accurate. When you come: Christ Church tour hours are Monday - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sundays: 12:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. This place is the real deal. It is the spot where the Episcopal Church was founded in this country in 1695 per William Penn's Charter yet it is still an active and vibrate parish. If you're in Philly it's a must see. read more

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Historic site/landmark in Philadelphia. Not a super huge church but definitely full of history. The staffs there are friendly to answer any questions. read more

Christ Church - Churches Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Came here and had a 10 minute tour which was super interesting! You'll see Benjamin frankIin's pew, and there are several important figures buried here! Staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. Check this place out! read more

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One of my favorite spots to read in. But then again it's not every day that you can read alongside Ben Franklin and a bunch of people who signed the declaration of independence. Christ Church is a necessary stop for any historical Philly tour. It's a beautifully renovated old church with a that maintains a lot of it's old features and beauty. Aside from Ben Franklin there are definitely plenty of other historic people resting there. I can't comment on Christ Church's services (haven't rolled that way for awhile). But Christ Church also has a nice park that is perfect for relaxing on a warm day when your in Old City. read more

You haven't really been to Philadelphia unless you pay a visit to Christ Episcopal Church. A testament of the Liberal branch of Christianity that allowed our country to become a country and to develop. Six signatories of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are buried within its walls or in the field two blocks away. Christ Church was one of the two "must have" membership churches of the wealthy families in Philadelphia in the years before the American Revolution. Many of our Founding Fathers' families were members, the Hopkinsons, Clevelands, Ross', and Rush's. And as well, the Reeds, one of the most prominent Philadelphia clans whose heir, Deborah Reed, married the Bostonian Benjamin Franklin in a common law marriage and whose family plot became the Franklin plot, where both of them are buried along with their children. And as well, there are several famous transplants such as Jacob Broom, signer of the Constitution from Delaware, and Pierce Butler, signer of the Constitution from South Carolina, The church was also the birthplace of the US Episcopal Church. It is all way too much to comprehend in one building... Entering the church is an emotional experience in American history. The building, dating from 1719 and accented with Flemish style brickwork, was built to show the rising power and wealth of the new colonial native families. Church services are held there as the building is a full working worship temple. It is an amazing experience. read more

FYI for those that are visiting here for the first time: Benjamin Franklin is not buried here. He is further down the road within the Christ Church Burial Ground. I made this error coming to this church for the first time as an adult. Nonetheless, the church is worth seeing. While you'll notice both the graves + grave markers of distinguished individuals dating back to the 1700s entombed within the church's interior and exterior, Christ Church is still a decent place to stop at while on a walking tour. You'll find it a bit small within the pews, yet the church is maintained well. The maintenance part is worth noting, considering that this church was built in 1695, well before the United States was even born. One of the first things that you'll see is an individual at a small kiosk selling souvenirs and accepted donations for the church. I don't remember paying anything to enter the church, yet I did get valuable information from the church representative as to directions to the Christ Church Burial Ground. Also, I greatly appreciated observing a stone marker of a friend's family that dated back to the 1700s (the Elder family) located toward the rear of the church, depicting a long family lineage. Despite Benjamin Franklin not being buried on the grounds of this historic church, it is certainly worth making a stop at while touring the Old City. read more

One of my favorite sites to visit in Philadelphia! The church is beautifully maintained, and I love the pipe organ! There is always a guide available to explain the historical significance of some of the many items (the bell, the pews, etc.). I always find it amazing to be able to sit in the same pew as George Washington! read more

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Slightly bummed because all the signs and everywhere online says they open at 10am. We got there at that time and the gates were locked, tried calling the church several times and could not reach anyone. Saturday at 10 am this past weekend was when we were there. We were visiting from Los Angeles and don't have any plans to visit Philadelphia in the near future so we were pretty bummed about it. Turns out they open at 11am.. according to the nice people who work at the cemetery where Benjamin Franklin is buried. read more

This review is regarding the Christ Church Burial Ground only. The Christ Church Burial Ground is the final resting place of many important historical figures including Benjamin Franklin. He is amongst four other signers of the Declaration of Independence, Dr. Benjamin , Rush, Francis Hopkinson, Joseph Hewes, and George Ross. Other notable figures include Commodore William Bainbridge (captain of "Old Ironsides"), Dr. Philip Syng Physick ("father of modern surgery"), and Charles Mason (laid out the Mason-Dixon Line in 1763). With a student ID, you can enter the burial ground for $1 and can obtain a map of notable grave sights for an additional $1. We were able to walk around, discover graves that were not labeled on the map, and marvel at the stonework around the grounds. I was surprised to see newer stones placed and discovered that this is an active graveyard. Can't imagine how one would come upon owning a plot in this location! It was terribly hot the day I visited and enjoyed resting on the numerous benches in the shade. Benjamin Franklin's grave can be seen through a gated area (if you don't wanna pay to get in) and is surrounded by informative plaques and pennies left on the stone itself. The grounds are peaceful and historical, an interesting place to visit alongside several other important locations in Philadelphia. read more

Beautiful building. I am not religious but when I lived in the city I would visit here every Sunday afternoon just to have a quiet moment of rest and reflection. I can say that the tour guide here was genuinely a friend to see on my regular visits, and I hope to get back in the future to visit regularly again!! Wonderful place, beautiful organ, altar and light filtering in from the nearby trees. Very peaceful. read more

History buffs - asking for the tour is worth it! In addition to seeing where Washington sat and reading some placards, you can learn about the norms of the church itself during its early years. read more

Fun place to relive history. Including seeing where Ben Franklin is actually buried and sitting in the same pew that he sat in or George Washington did is incredible. Vtrainers Personal Training read more

If you love history, if you love old buildings, if you are enamored with old gardens, don't miss a visit to Christ Church, or its cemetery a few blocks away. Details about this location are covered in other reviews, so I won't repeat them. I'll just "second" the recommendations that you don't miss this historic landmark. Tip: you can sit outside in the garden area, and enjoy its ambiance. Take your kindle and a coffee and absorb the peaceful beauty! read more

The tour guide here was above par on all counts - engaging, exuberant, and informative. He really brought the past to life, and made it feel like some of the former parishioners could have walked in and sat down, had it been Sunday. The people of color had to sit in the pews near the ceiling. I liked how the docent put this church in the context of Pennsylvania's interfaith/religious history and legacy. Interior is all white with dark trim, like a lovely decorated cake. I didn't find the graves too fascinating (didn't find Franklin's, that is), and the garden was okay. read more

The other reviews have summed this place up very well. TIP: If you don't want to pay the $1 to visit the grave site, Benjamin Franklin's grave is right at the edge. You can see it through the fence and save some dough. A penny saved is a penny earned! read more

I love American history. And while I am not a religious person, I have a hobby of going inside various churches. And this was is a definite must see! First off, I was freaked out at seeing gravemarkers in the walkway. I kept wanting to jump over them, versus walking on them. Just an old superstition told to me by my grandmother. But everyone else was just walking over them like it was nothing. The gentleman who greeted us was very friendly & welcomed us warmly. I passed a donation box as I entered the church & gladly dropped in $5. Money well spent. The church itself is wonderful. Very open & bright. And then you start thinking about the famouse Founding Fathers who passed through these doors.....George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross....oh yes, I had goosebumps. There was a class taking a tour & we sat a few rows away from them. My friend & I decided to stop long enough to take a rest. Oddly enough, I will open the Bible & randomly find myself reading Psalms 75. Good stuff....even if I don't follow it. We stopped long enough in the gift shop to buy a few things. We stayed long enough to hear the organist practicing. Good music. It filled the whole church. Definitely worth stopping in here during your trip. Religious or not.....it doesn't matter. American History is for all Americans who want to know it. As for the Christ Church burial ground....it's a few blocks away. You will find Benjamin Franklin buried here. Yes, you can see the tombstone from outside the gate, but stop being cheap! Pay the $2 to go in & walk around. More American History will be seen in there. Try reading some of the more worn out markers. See if you find the guy who was a safecracker! read more

For an actual church service this place is awesome! Attended Sunday morning and the music is great and a great diverse attendance. Great sermon too! As a historical museum also fantastic! Being able to sit in the same row as Benjamin Franklin is pretty freaking cool!! So much history in this place it is a must see! read more

This is a beautiful spot, serene (despite the bustling city around it) and full of amazing history. Benjamin Franklin's grave is here - you can either pay a small admission fee, or you can just walk a few feet down the sidewalk and see it from the gate. If you happen to be in Philly, definitely stop by for a look. It's worth it, even if it's out of your way. read more

Christ Church - Churches Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We stumbled upon Christ Church on our own little walking tour around Philly. We walked in and was greeted by a nice man in the gift store area. Then you can walk into the church and they do have a box for donation. We felt a bit bad so we ended up not going in as we didn't have money to donate. I know, it's voluntary, but we didn't feel right not paying. So we ended up walking right out without really seeing the inside. We did walk around the outside which had a lot of gravestones and such. read more

Just another great historical stop as you walk around the city. The church is beautifully kept. You can sit in the same pews as Benjamin Franklin and Betsy Ross. There are numerous grave sites of many important people in history here. Admission is free, but there is a small suggested donation. We gave double the amount because it's well worth it. read more

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History right in front of you! Christ Church was on my list of things to see in Philly, and I'm sure glad I stopped by. Entry is free and they have a little gift shop in the front as you walk in. The church itself is beautiful and the pew boxes are a great place to take a load off and relax, especially if you have been walking all over Philadelphia like I had been. I was surprised, yet delighted, that there was a tour guide in the church! I wasn't expecting this but the man was a wealth of knowledge, and he pointed out and explained many aspects of the church that I would have missed had I just wandered around on my own. read more

In Philly for vacation, and stopped by to see the Church as tourists, after spending a chunk of the day at Independence Hall. We were invited back for services on Sunday morning. The inside is beautiful, and reminded us of Old North Church in Boston. Christ Church is of course the church of note for Washington, Franklin, and a number of other notables, and their pews are labeled. There are a few VIPs buried in the floor, of course, and the Church's burial ground, containing Franklin himself, is a couple of blocks away and also well deserving of a visit. On Sunday, we were warmly greeted by Susan, the reverend. It's the kind of experience that makes us think we're more Episcopalian than Catholic. Our daughters were fascinated by the fact that a woman held the service, and the bishop is also a woman. It was a wonderful, friendly experience. The grounds outside are also very nice. Even if you're not in fear of a wrathful god (and you should be, you sinful jerk), this is definitely a worthy stop, and just a few blocks' walk from Independence Hall. read more

Beautiful church in Old City Philly. This was George Washington's Sunday hangout. As far as America's history goes, a beautiful place to see. The wholesales around there is very beautiful, cobblestone streets, old colonial structures, museums and such. read more

This is an excellently preserved building and we had a wonderful volunteer explain the history of the building and it's many impressive artifacts and items. It's a beautiful space to sit and reflect on our nation and our history. read more

This is where the legends of US history went on Sunday. Beautiful church with a lot of history to it. A great stop when you are touring the town. read more

Our guide made visiting this location an awesome experience. Courtney was engaging with out 5th grade kids and she has a quirky sense of humor and a great personality. She's a keeper! read more

It is a really pretty church but more than that it is a serene resting place for many, including Benjamin Franklin.

This is a great tourist stop. Although cemeteries in general are creepy, this one is small and surrounded by an old, quaint brick wall, and the playing "find the Declaration signer" among the headstones makes it feel less like a trip to a cemetery and more like just another stop on the Elfreth's Alley-Betsy Ross House-Independence Hall tourist junket. Personally, I only go there when giving my own personal tour of Philly to friends from out of town, but I actually find the information on the headstones and the large number of notable figures from early U.S. history very interesting. The city does a great job of maintaining the property, and, of course, it's always nice to stop by and see Ben Franklin's final resting place. read more

Wonderful place to walk through and learn a bit of history. It's weird to be reviewing a historical museum/church which also serves as a burial ground. The historian that was working the little shop up front was just wonderful. He was friendly and after we walked around, he thanked us for visiting and asked us if we had any questions about anything. I asked him a few things about the building and the burials inside and loved how he was so eager to share his knowledge. Just a wonderful learning experience. read more

Both the church and cemetary are amazing peices of history!

Huge historical significance... Aka membership includes founding fathers etc. Free exhibit, could do a better job on educating visitors.

OLD. Very cool to walk and sit in the same church that Benjamin Franklin and George Washington did. The church was built on top of a cemetary so there are some very old graves right in the floor. The decor is very cool. There is a small cemetary on the backside of the church. It is free to visit, but there is a suggest donation. read more

America starts here! I am blessed to be a member of this church. Please visit and soak in the history and the sanctuary!

Pretty cool to see Benjamin Franklin's resting place. It really is a peaceful cemetery, even though a bit creepy (since many coffin's are above ground). It's very cool to see people surrounding Franklin's grave, even outside the gates. There's a donation to get in but you feel more than willing to donate to those preserving our history. read more