Three Congregations Celebrating 175th Year in the City
Eight churches, three celebrating 175 years of service to the community, will join together for the second annual Altar Crawl Sunday, May 4th, opening their doors to visitors for free tours and special events. Hours are 1-5PM. Participating churches include : Bethel A.M.E., First Baptist, First Christian, First Presbyterian, Sacred Heart Cathedral, St. John's United Methodist, St. Paul's Lutheran and Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.
May is designated as Preservation Month by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. All of these churches are home to some of Davenport's earliest communities of faith, tracing their roots to the city's beginnings. Six of the eight participating churches worship in structures individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places, designed by master architects from Davenport, Chicago and New York. In 2014, First Baptist, First Christian, and First Presbyterian are celebrating the 175th anniversary of the founding of their congregations.
Not content to rest on their historic foundations, these congregations continue to give back by hosting many social programs. All are members of P.U.N.C.H. (People Uniting Neighbors and Churches) which, along with Hilltop Campus Village is sponsoring the event. "Our hilltop churches have worked hard to develop a unique partnership with each other through P.U.N.C.H. and with Hilltop Campus Village to benefit the people we serve," said Ralph Kelly, President of P.U.N.C.H. "The Altar Crawl is an example of that collaboration and a unique opportunity for visitors to enjoy the beautiful legacy of those who came before us."
On May 4th, participating churches will provide a variety of activities, from behind-the-scenes tours to special concerts and pageants. Visitors may begin their tour at any participating church, A tour brochure with map and more information will be available at all locations or can be downloaded at the Hilltop Campus Village website beginning May 1st.
What: The Hilltop Campus Village Altar Crawl.
When: Sunday, May 4th, 2014, 1-5PM.
Where: Eight participating churches in and around the boundaries of Hilltop Campus Village, Davenport, Iowa.
Tickets: No tickets required, free to the public.
Parking: In church lots and surrounding streets.
