York Habitat for Humanity is inviting people to see the beauty and history of the local faith community.

Habitat has organized its first Tour of York Historic Churches, to be held from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday at five churches.

Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 on tour day.

"We hope (the public) develops a new appreciation for all the amazing history that we have among the faith-based facilities," said Debbie Krout-Althoff, Habitat's executive director. "Their value to the community can sometimes be overlooked until someone takes the time to point it out and help us understand the significance in building these structures and

the plethora of history involved."

The tour begins with a luncheon at 12:30 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 140 N. Beaver St. in York City. A Habitat International Day of Prayer service begins at 1 p.m.

St. John was built in 1769 and houses York County's historic Liberty Bell, on display in the nave of the church. The bell was presented to the church in 1774 by Queen Caroline of England.

The other historic churches are:

---First Presbyterian, 225 E. Market St.: A 250-year-old church featuring its original altar, a chapel triptych dating to the 13th century and a 195-foot tower and spire.

---St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, 231 S. Beaver St.: The church and rectory were built in 1895. The attached school displays its original bell, dated 1886.

---Trinity United Church of Christ, 32 W. Market St.: Its narthex contains two stained-glass windows marking the parish's association with the founding of the republic. George Washington worshipped there -- when it was known as the German Reformed Church -- on July 3, 1791.

---Union Evangelical Lutheran Church, 408 W. Market St.: Features a neo-Gothic sanctuary designed in 1925 by prolific York architect J.A. Dempwolf and completed in 1929. A stained-glass window in the tower bears his image.

The proceeds: This is the first year for Habitat's Tour of York Historic Churches, Krout-Althoff said. There are plans to make the tour an annual event, she said.

Money raised from the event will be used towards for Habitat's Building on Faith 2013, which involves the construction of homes at 403 and 405 S. Albemarle St. in York City.

The goal is to raise $90,000 to construct one of the homes. St. Mark's Lutheran Church has already agreed to sponsor the construction of a home, Krout-Althoff said.

Construction on those homes begins in June 2013, with plans to have families moved in by Thanksgiving of that year, she said.

Habitat houses are built with help from volunteers to keep mortgage costs down. Home candidates must complete 200 hours of sweat equity, or volunteer work, to help build their residence or another Habitat house.

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Take the tour of churches

Habitat organized its first Tour of York Historic Churches to be held from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday at five churches.

The tour begins with a luncheon at 12:30 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 140 N. Beaver St. in York City. A Habitat International Day of Prayer service begins at 1 p.m.

The other city-based historic churches are:

---First Presbyterian, 225 E. Market St.

---St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, 231 S. Beaver St.

---Trinity United Church of Christ, 32 W. Market St.

---Union Evangelical Lutheran Church, 408 W. Market St.

Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 on tour day. Tickets can be purchased at participating churches, at Refindings, 465 Prospect St. in the city and at Habitat's office, 33 S. Seward Street, West York. For online purchases, visit www.mycommunityevents.com. For information, call 854-6168.

-- Reach Eyana Adah McMillan at emcmillan@yorkdispatch.com.