What is the Fort Wayne City of Churches Tour?

Once a year, churches throughout Fort Wayne open their doors and invite the community to come inside, look around, and discover what makes each place special.

The Fort Wayne City of Churches Tour is a self-guided opportunity to explore some of the city's most interesting churches and sacred spaces. There is no single route to follow and no particular order in which to visit. Pick a few that catch your eye, make a day of it, or simply stop by one you've always wondered about. The choice is yours.

What might you find?

Every church is a little different—and that's part of the fun. Depending on where you visit, you might discover:

• Stunning architecture, from soaring Gothic arches and ornate altars to Art Deco details and beautifully preserved historic spaces

• Stained glass windows, including works by nationally and internationally recognized artists and studios

• Religious art and sculpture, ranging from centuries-old traditions to modern interpretations

• Historic organs and other musical instruments

• Murals, mosaics, woodwork, stonework, and other craftsmanship that can be easy to miss from the outside

• Stories about Fort Wayne's history, neighborhoods, congregations, and the people who built these places

• Music, demonstrations, exhibits, or other special activities hosted by participating churches

• And occasionally, a delightful surprise or two that you simply cannot see from the sidewalk

Each participating church hosts the Tour in its own way. Some may offer a formal tour or presentation; others may have volunteers available to answer questions; still others may simply invite you to wander, look up, and take it all in.

Who is the Tour for?

Everyone. Really.

You don't have to be a churchgoer—or know anything about churches—to enjoy the Tour. You don't have to be an expert in architecture, art, or history. You don't even have to know what you're looking at.

Come because you love stained glass. Come because you're curious about a building you've driven past for years. Come because you enjoy history, photography, architecture, music, or beautiful things. Come because a friend dragged you along. You might even discover something you didn't know you were interested in.

The Tour welcomes visitors of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of familiarity with Christianity and its many traditions.

A few things to keep in mind

The churches on the Tour are real, active places of worship, and we ask visitors to treat them accordingly. You are welcome to explore, ask questions, admire the architecture, and take photographs where permitted—but please remember that these are sacred spaces to the people who worship in them.

A few simple courtesies go a long way:

• Be curious and respectful. Different churches may look, sound, and feel very different from one another. That's the point!

• Follow the host church's guidance. Each church knows its building best and may have areas that are off-limits or special instructions for visitors.

• Ask before photographing people. Buildings and artwork are one thing; people are another.

• Respect signs and barriers. If a door is closed or an area is marked as unavailable, there's probably a good reason.

• Dress comfortably and appropriately for a church setting. You don't need to dress up, but remember that you're visiting places of worship.

• Leave the sales pitch at home. The Tour is about discovering churches, not debating religion or trying to convince someone to change their beliefs.

• And perhaps most importantly: look up! Some of the best details are hiding above eye level.

The Tour is not a worship service, and visitors are not expected to participate in religious activities. At the same time, we hope everyone will approach each church with the same courtesy they would extend when visiting someone's home.

Accessibility

Accessibility varies from church to church. If you have questions about accessibility, including entrances, stairs, elevators, restrooms, parking, seating, or other accommodations, please contact the participating church directly before your visit. Church contact information is provided with each participating location.

We encourage visitors to reach out ahead of time so each church can help you plan your visit and answer questions about its building and Tour activities.

Come curious.

You may arrive looking for stained glass and leave fascinated by an organ. You may come for the architecture and discover a story about Fort Wayne you never knew. You may recognize a tradition from your own childhood—or encounter one completely new to you.

That's what makes the City of Churches Tour special.

Open a door. Look around. Ask a question. Discover something new.

History

Fort Wayne has long been known as the City of Churches, a fitting name for a community whose landscape is marked by hundreds of houses of worship representing generations of faith, craftsmanship, architecture, and community life.

The Fort Wayne City of Churches Tour began in 2016 through the vision of Cornelia Schulz, a native of Germany and a longtime Fort Wayne volunteer. Inspired in part by the German tradition of Lange Nacht der Kirchen—the “Long Night of Churches”—Cornelia wanted to create an opportunity for people to experience the remarkable churches of Fort Wayne beyond the congregations to which they belonged. The idea was simple: open the doors, welcome the community, and allow people to discover the history, art, architecture, and stories found inside buildings they might otherwise only pass on the street.

What began with a collection of downtown churches soon grew into an annual community tradition. By 2019, dozens of churches had expressed interest in participating, reflecting the remarkable variety of Fort Wayne's religious and architectural heritage. Each year, participating churches have welcomed visitors into their sanctuaries, chapels, and other spaces, sharing their buildings and stories with the wider community.

The Tour has also become an opportunity for ecumenical discovery. Churches from different Christian traditions participate side by side, inviting visitors to encounter traditions, histories, and forms of worship that may be unfamiliar to them. The result is not simply a tour of buildings, but a celebration of the many communities that have helped shape Fort Wayne.

After leading the Tour for several years, Cornelia passed its leadership to Brice Vinson-Schisler, a Fort Wayne native with a particular appreciation for church art and architecture. Under his direction, the Tour has continued to grow beyond its original downtown focus, welcoming architecturally and artistically significant churches from throughout the city and occasionally presenting special events during the year, including the Stained Glass Tour.

Today, the Fort Wayne City of Churches Tour continues the tradition Cornelia began: opening the doors of Fort Wayne's churches and inviting the entire community to discover the beauty, history, and stories held within them. After nearly a decade, what began as one volunteer's idea has become a treasured annual tradition and a celebration of Fort Wayne's remarkable architectural and religious heritage.