St. Philip’s and St. Paul’s Episcopal Churches are collaborating on “Walking with the Enslaved: The Church’s Role in Slavery,” a faith-based program focused on addressing Richmond’s racial history and promoting racial healing.

The initiative will guide participants through historical sites tied to the city’s involvement in the domestic slave trade and the Confederacy, encouraging reflection on the Church’s complicity in slavery and its responsibility for racial repair. Inspired by the Richmond Slave Trail, the program aims to deepen understanding of how race was used as a tool of oppression in both the Church and society.

The program’s goals include exploring the Church’s role in systemic racism, fostering spiritual transformation, and equipping participants to work toward racial justice. By confronting issues such as denial and complacency, it seeks to empower individuals to take meaningful action in their communities.

St. Philip’s, founded in 1861, is a historically African American church in North Side Richmond. St. Paul’s, established in 1845, is a Downtown Richmond church once known as the “Cathedral of the Confederacy.” Both congregations are now committed to reconciliation and social justice and have partnered to lead this initiative.

For more information, visit stpaulsrva.org.