National Cathedral to Host Interfaith Service Marking America’s 250th Anniversary

June 24, 2026

The National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., will commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence with a nationally focused interfaith gathering scheduled for July 3.

Christianity Daily reports that the interfaith event, titled “We Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident,” will be free and open to the public.

Promotional materials for the event say that the gathering will “[celebrate] the nation’s ideals alongside an honest reckoning of its history and unfinished work.”

Cathedral Dean Randolph Hollerith described the gathering as “a national interfaith service celebrating 250 years of the American story.”

Meanwhile, Washington Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde described the cathedral as a place intended to welcome people from diverse backgrounds and faith traditions, saying, “Washington National Cathedral is a house of prayer for all people, and a gathering place for the nation.”

Budde added that, “The service will bring together voices and traditions that will show us where we’ve been as a country and who we are called to become.”

The July 3 event is presented in partnership with the Courage Project, which was launched in 2025 with support from several progressive philanthropic organizations.

The Courage Project provides financial awards to groups it believes demonstrate civic courage and public leadership and has been linked to organizations involved in assisting migrants detained by immigration authorities and other activist causes.

According to Christianity Daily, the America 250 observance is being presented as part of the cathedral’s broader “A Better Way” initiative, a program focused on civic dialogue, public engagement and national issues.

Photo: top, Credit: Washington National Cathedral website