CANAAN, N.H. — July 26, 2026 — The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire (BHTNH), in partnership with the Old North Church and Episcopal Church of NH, will bring its Elinor Williams Hooker Tea Talks beyond Portsmouth this summer with the first event in its 2026 Traveling Tea Talks series.
The inaugural Traveling Tea Talk, “A Knock at Midnight: Black Preacher as Orator,” will take place Saturday, August 22, at 4 p.m. at North Church in Canaan, New Hampshire. The program will explore the enduring role of Black preachers as powerful voices in African American communities—not only as religious leaders, but also as political voices, cultural transmitters, community organizers, and skilled orators.
The Canaan conversation will examine how the Black pulpit has historically served as both a sanctuary and a platform for liberation, while considering how contemporary speakers continue to use oratory to inspire, mobilize, and lead movements for justice.
The program will feature Robert Thompson, founding president and founder and pastor of Sovereign Souls Fellowship Church in Exeter, New Hampshire.
The Traveling Tea Talks expand upon BHTNH’s annual Elinor Williams Hooker Tea Talks, bringing community conversations about Black history, culture, and African American life to communities throughout New Hampshire. The series reflects BHTNH’s commitment to ensuring that all Granite Staters have opportunities to engage with the state’s Black history and its continuing legacy.
Event Details:
What: “A Knock at Midnight: Black Preacher as Orator”
When: Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 4 p.m.
Where: North Church, Canaan, NH
Admission: Registration required
For more information and to RSVP, visit blackheritagetrailnh.org/events/triplet-2026-canaan.