Local Church Celebrates Anniversary Of The End Of Slavery
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- December 6th marks 150 years since the Thirteenth Amendment was ratified, making slavery unconstitutional in the United States.
To celebrate and to highlight some our area's role in abolishing slavery, St. Paul's Elkins Park Church is hosting weekend events including concerts, historical reenactments and presentations.
"It's a perfect storm that we're having it this weekend in a house of worship in this area because it was their staunch beliefs, linked to their passion for justice and freedom, that brought these people together," church historian Marita Krivda Poxon told Eyewitness News, speaking about some figures who will be highlighted at the events.
The church's exhibition aims to tell the stories of eight figures, places and events that unfolded in the Cheltenham area that helped end slavery, including Jay Cooke, Lucretia Mott, Harriet Tubman and Camp William Penn.
Almost 11,000 ex-slaves, free blacks and white officers trained at the site.
"We gave the only regular religious services at Camp William Penn and it has been said that the women of our church also nursed sick soldiers there," Rev. Paul Reid of St. Paul's.
The weekend's events will be held at the St. Paul's Elkins Park Church located at 7809 Old York Road, Elkins Park, Pa.
Events during the day are free , a ticket for the Saturday night concert is $20 for adults.