Jem and Scout's visit to First Purchase African M.E. Church is significant for many reasons. First, the children experience racism for the first time as white visitors to a black church. When Lula insults Calpurnia and starts up the pathway toward the children, Jem says, "Let's go home, Cal, they don't want us here--" and Scout agrees. However, there are many more people, including Reverend Sykes, who are glad to have the children visit.
The visit also exposes Jem and Scout to several crucial attributes about Calpurnia's church and the black community at large. First, they take care of their own: a collection is taken up for Tom Robinson's wife, and everyone is pressured to donate. Secondly, they learn how the churchgoers overcome their illiteracy by "lining" the hymns rather than reading them.
Perhaps most importantly, Jem and Scout see Calpurnia in a new light. They realize that she leads a "modest double life," that she is highly educated and respected among her peers, and that she will defend them against anyone if she needs to.
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