First Prayer in Congress

The first prayer in the Continental Congress was offered on September 7, 1774, at Carpenters’ Hall in Philadelphia by Reverend Jacob Duché, a respected Anglican minister chosen with support from leaders such as Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. At a tense moment when war with Great Britain seemed imminent, Duché read from Psalm 35 and offered an extemporaneous prayer that deeply moved the delegates, including George Washington and the Adams cousins. John Adams later wrote that the prayer united men of different colonies and denominations and brought many to tears, reflecting the Founders’ belief in God’s providence and the role of prayer at the beginning of America’s fight for independence.

Read the full article here: https://familyschool.org/spotlight/first-prayer-5

This episode was created using Notebook LM voice-overs and original research by Rosemary Pollock, historian and published author, who holds an MA in U.S. History and an MA in U.S. History with a focus on the History of Science and Medicine.

Produced by Isaac Okawa with American Heritage Worldwide.