Join this year's walking tour on May 4 and get tips on how to plan your day
Mother Emanuel AME Church is one of 20 houses of worship that welcomes visitors to taste signature treats and learn about their services during the Spirited Brunch, to be held on May 4.
From the percussive sound of bells to the sight of stained glass windows, the Holy City’s houses of worship deliver sensory touchpoints for all who pass by. But for a truly authentic taste of these prayer communities, journalist Hanna Raskin believes in a more immersive experience. “Food is the easiest way into someone else’s culture, beliefs, and values,” says the founder of digital magazine The Food Section and creator of the Spirited Brunch tasting tour.
As a downtown resident who previously served as food editor for The Post & Courier, Raskin always hungered to know more about the churches and synagogues she encountered on her walk to work. But on those weekdays, the buildings were usually locked and empty. So in 2017, Raskin and her friend Elijah Siegler, a College of Charleston religious studies professor, launched a self-guided sanctuary and snack tour (to be held this year on May 4, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.).
Home to a host of sacred spaces mere steps from each other, the Charleston peninsula makes an ideal hub for a jaunt around town on a glorious spring afternoon. (This is not the day for Sunday heels—be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes.) “The driving purpose of this event is to better understand the community we share,” explains Raskin. “The Spirited Brunch reminds us what it means to live side-by-side with those of different faiths.”
Head to St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church for cookies (inset).
Over the course of the day, visitors might learn that challah, usually an egg bread, is central to the Jewish Sabbath meal. Or share a vegetable curry, which has been ritually offered to Hindu deities. Or discover that Muslims break their fast with energy-packed dates during Ramadan, following the example of the Prophet Muhammad. With close to 20 congregations on this year’s list, the event promises a variety of flavors. “We’re intent on representing the diversity and vibrancy of our community,” adds Raskin, who takes great care to make sure the lineup “looks like Charleston.”
Of course, not everyone attends because of an interest in the city’s religious pluralism. Some people have an appetite for immigration history or the architectural styles of the 19th century. Others are curious about the preservation of these buildings (to which on-site volunteers from the Preservation Society of Charleston can speak). “And some just want really delicious collard greens,” laughs Raskin, who estimates guest numbers each year based on how many slices of Huguenot torte the French Protestant Church hands out. (Insider tip: if you’re out to taste this apple-nut crisp, go there first.) The annual open-house event, which welcomes between 700 and 1,000 visitors, doesn’t require tickets or RSVPs.
(Left) Huguenot torte at The French Protestant Church and matzah bark (right) at Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim.
“The biggest decision you’ll need to make is whether to start on the north or south end of the tour, knowing that food may run out later in the afternoon,” says Raskin. Whether you visit a few locations or aim for double digits, the founder recommends a stop at CofC’s Arnold Hall, where faith communities housed off the peninsula set up booths, including Sikh Gurudwara Nanak Darbar and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her top recommendation? “Come curious, and come hungry.”
On the Menu: For a complete look at the foods being served and how they represent these sacred spaces, pick up a Spirited Brunch map at any participating congregation one week prior to the event, and visit thefoodsection.com for an archive of Raskin’s Spirited Brunch write-ups.
