ABOUT US

MISSION STATEMENT

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Our mission is to glorify God by joining the work of Jesus Christ in our community: making
disciples, proclaiming good news, confronting injustice, and serving our neighbors with truth, compassion, and Spirit-empowered action.

 

VISION STATEMENT

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Our vision is to be a Spirit-led church that embodies Christ’s liberating love, forms courageous disciples, and advances justice, healing, and hope throughout our community.

 

BRIEF HISTORY OF CAPITAL

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Capital Presbyterian Church, originally founded in 1858, holds a significant place in history as the third African American congregation in Harrisburg and the fourteenth in the United States established before the end of the Civil War. This was a time of profound change in America, with newly emancipated black men and women seeking to establish lives as free individuals. Black Presbyterian congregations were typically well-educated, using their literacy skills to uplift and educate the surrounding community.

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THE EARLY DAYS: SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

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The church was initially known as Second Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg. Before 1858, its members were part of the "colored" members of Market Square Presbyterian Church. A group of nine charter members, led by Elder Mordecai McKinney, petitioned the Presbytery of Carlisle to form a separate congregation. Three days later, the congregation gathered in a large room on the second floor of the Haldeman estate, located at Walnut Street and River Alley. Rev. Charles W. Gardner was appointed as the first pastor. In 1863, Second Presbyterian Church became affiliated with the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America (PCUSA) and was officially incorporated under Pennsylvania law in 1865. The congregation, along with other churches in the region, reunited with the Presbytery of Carlisle after resolving key issues, including the question of slavery.

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A NAME EVOLUTION: FROM ELDER STREET TO CAPITAL STREET

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In 1866, the congregation moved into its own building on Elder Street and was renamed Elder Street Presbyterian Church. However, on January 26, 1880, a fire destroyed the building. During the rebuilding process, services were held temporarily at the YMCA and later at the Keystone Hotel. In 1881, a new stone building was completed on the original elder street site. Following the city's renaming of Elder Street to Capital Street, the congregation updated its name to Capital Street Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

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A NEW LOCATION: CUMBERLAND STREET

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Due to Harrisburg’s expansion program, which claimed the church’s previous property through eminent domain to construct the Pennsylvania Museum, the church moved to its current location at 1401 Cumberland Street in 1953. It opened its doors and held the first service on November 1 of the same year. Shortly thereafter, the congregation dropped “street” from its name, and the church simply became known as Capital Presbyterian Church.

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A LEGACY OF COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Capital Presbyterian Church has played a significant role in Harrisburg’s history, known for its commitment to Christian education, family values, and community service. One of the church's standout ministries was the Westminster fellowship, a youth group that attracted young people from across the city, regardless of denomination. This program provided a safe space for youth to engage in fun activities, Christian education, and fellowship, fostering the moral and spiritual development of many of Harrisburg’s African American leaders.

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Over the years, Capital Presbyterian also hosted notable African American figures, including Coretta Scott (before her marriage to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) And the legendary singer Marian Anderson. The church was the first in Harrisburg to invite the Howard University Choral Society to perform. It also served as a meeting place for civil rights organizations like the NAACP and the Harrisburg Urban League Guild, as well as other community groups, sororities, fraternities, and associations.

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MAYORAL PROCLAMATION

 

Mayor Wanda R.D. Williams recognized the 26th Day of October in the year of our Lord, 2025, as "Faithful Foundations Day" in honor of the Elders of Capital Presbyterian Church and to encourage all citizens to recognize the legacy of these outstanding individuals. 

 

CONTINUING THE MISSION

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Today, after years of hard work, prayer, and sacrifice, Capital Presbyterian Church celebrates 167 years of ministry. The church continues its strong tradition of educating and nurturing all, standing as a beacon of strength, faith, and community in Harrisburg. The congregation remains dedicated to positively transforming lives through prayer, worship, and service with the hope of fulfilling God’s Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.