A Gathering of Faiths in Charleston 

Click here for a one page description of this event. And here for the flyer.

On December 30 Mayor John J. Tecklenburg will be proclaiming January Interfaith Harmony Month during a press conference at Charleston City Hall at 11AM. Children from 11 different faith traditions will read the lines of the proclamation and music will be offered by jazz artist and songwriter Heather Rice. Please join us at City Hall, 80 Broad Street on December 30 at 11AM for this event. 

That same evening, in partnership with Charleston 350: Celebrating Charleston’s 350th Anniversary, The Charleston Interreligious Council is hosting an Interfaith Harmony Month kick-off event, A Gathering of Faiths in Charleston. It will be held December 30 at 6:30 pm at Seacoast Church in West Ashley, 2049 Savannah Highway.

This event will be an opportunity for the Charleston public to better understand the deep history of faith in Charleston, beginning with the Native American Community, on to the first settlers, to the current diverse representation of faith traditions. A historical celebration and presentation of faith traditions in Charleston, the event will be centered on the great importance of the hope felt by slaves on December 31, 1862 as they kept “Watch Night” for the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Participants will get a glimpse of all the oldest to newest faith traditions in Charleston. They will visit stations set up describing each faith tradition, their history and their hopes, all while enjoying a light meal prepared by Gullah Chef Charlotte Jenkins.  After the tour of faith traditions, Charleston historians will offer a presentation about the rich history of faith in Charleston. The gathering will end with participants experiencing a Watch Night Service conducted by Rev. Kylon Middleton and Mt. Zion AME Church.

This event is free to the public and all are invited!

We encourage everyone to participate in the following events before and during Interfaith Harmony Month:

• December 31 at 12:00pm, Watch Night Service at Morris Brown AME, hosted by the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission

• January 1, Emancipation Proclamation Parade, ending with a service, hosted by the Charleston Emancipation Proclamation Association.

• January 12 at 2pm: Sacred Space Tour starting at Second Presbyterian Church and then St Matthew's Lutheran Church, ending with refreshments.

• January 27 at 6:30pm, Food and Faith Program, Muslim and Jewish communities present about Women in Faith, halal and kosher meal served at Arnold Hall, 96 Wentworth St.

Click here for a one page description of A Gathering of Faiths in Charleston. Click here for the flyer.