Presented in partnership with the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, this special evening at the historic Old North Church will explore the enduring power of the Black preacher in American public life.

For generations, Black preachers have served not only as spiritual leaders, but also as orators, organizers, educators, and advocates for justice. From abolition and Reconstruction through the Civil Rights Movement and into the present day, the Black pulpit has shaped the nation’s moral imagination through language grounded in faith, resilience, and liberation.

“A Knock at Midnight” examines how the pulpit evolved into both sanctuary and platform — a place where communities gathered strength, preserved cultural memory, and spoke truth to power. The program will reflect on the unique role of Black preaching in shaping American democracy, public discourse, and movements for human dignity.

Presenters

Bishop Michael Curry, Ret. Reverend, 27th Presiding Bishop Episcopal Church

Angel Simone, Public Speaker and Global Executive

Robert Thompson, Founding President. Founder and Pastor of Sovereign Souls Fellowship Church. Exeter, New Hampshire

The program continues the Old North Church’s long tradition of engaging questions of conscience, freedom, faith, and public life within one of New Hampshire’s most historically significant sacred spaces.