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St. Peter's (Third and Pine Streets, 925-5968) makes a good starting place for a walking tour. It's a fine example of Georgian church architecture and represents the strong Episcopalian influence in Philadelphia.
When it was built in 1761, St. Peter's was called the "Chapel of Ease"
because its wealthy congregation wanted a church closer to their homes than Christ Church at Second and Market. It has remained virtually unchanged over the years; electricity wasn't added until 1926, and the building underwent only a slight renovation in 1960.
The interior has the original, high-backed box pews; a brick floor, and a light, airy atmosphere. The pulpit and the altar are unusual because they're at opposite ends of the aisle. This separates the sacrament from the sermon and causes the congregation to shift in their seats as the ceremony moves. The pulpit is 2 1/2 stories high and is one of only three said to be designed in a wineglass shape.
Given the high pulpit and the mobile ceremony, the best seats in the house are undoubtedly in the galleries that run along the sides.
The graveyard has monuments to several Revolutionary War heroes and other important colonials, plus seven Indian chiefs who died in the yellow-fever epidemic in 1793. Take time to wander about the churchyard and pick out the more interesting stones. Notice also that the church is beautiful from all angles.
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A block away is Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church (412 Pine St., 925-8051) - or Third, Scots, and Mariners Presbyterian Church, as its corporate name goes. You can't tell it today, but Old Pine used to look very much like St. Peter's. Both are creations of the same architect, Robert Smith.
