Exploring Boston's Religious History

Exploring Boston’s Religious History It is impossible to understand Boston without knowing something about its religious past. The city was founded in 1630 by settlers from England, Other Historical Destinations in popularly known as Puritans, Downtown Boston who wished to build a model Christian community. Their “city on a hill,” as Governor Old South Church Granary Burying Ground John Winthrop so memorably 645 Boylston Street Tremont Street, next to Park Street put it, was to be an example to On the corner of Dartmouth and Church, all the world. Central to this Boylston Streets Park Street T Stop goal was the establishment of Copley T Stop Burial Site of Samuel Adams and others independent local churches, in which all members had a voice New North Church (Now Saint Copp’s Hill Burying Ground and worship was simple and Stephen’s) Hull Street participatory. These Puritan 140 Hanover Street Haymarket and North Station T Stops religious ideals, which were Boston’s North End Burial Site of the Mathers later embodied in the Congregational churches, Site of Old North Church King’s Chapel Burying Ground shaped Boston’s early patterns (Second Church) Tremont Street, next to King’s Chapel of settlement and government, 2 North Square Government Center T Stop as well as its conflicts and Burial Site of John Cotton, John Winthrop controversies. Not many John Winthrop's Home Site and others original buildings remain, of Near 60 State Street course, but this tour of Boston’s “old downtown” will take you to sites important to the story of American Congregationalists, to their religious neighbors, and to one (617) 523-0470 of the nation’s oldest and most www.CongregationalLibrary.org intriguing cities. 14 Beacon Street [email protected] Boston, MA 02108 Congregational House: 14 Beacon Park Street Proceed down Tremont and past the Granary Burying Ground (if you are so inclined, stop in for a visit) to the corner of Tremont and Park. Corner of Tremont and Park the top of Beacon Hill. Streets Park Street has a long and colorful history. William Lloyd Garrison, the Park Street Church was organized in famous abolitionist, gave his first anti- 1809, when all but one of Boston’s slavery speech in its pulpit; the song Congregational churches (Old South) “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” was sung for the first time on Park Street’s steps. The first Protestant missionaries to Hawaii were commissioned in the sanctuary, and evangelist Billy Gra- ham’s began his famous Boston Cru- sade here in 1950. Park Street Church sits on Boston’s famous “brimstone corner,” a site long associated with Leave the Congregational House and cross Beacon to the opposite protest and free speech—one reason side of the street, near City Convenience. Look up at the Congrega- why its Mayflower Pulpit jutting out tional House building façade. from a second-storey window in the front of the church, still faces Boston The building which stands at 14 Bea- tional House hosts a diverse array of Common. con Street, just half a block from the nonprofit organizations, as well as the Massachusetts State House, was for Congregational Library and Archive. Today Park Street is a thriving church many years the unofficial headquarters with multiple worship services on of the Congregational churches in the The front façade of the building in- Sunday. It is also a site of the Free- United States. Completed in 1898, it cludes four large bas-reliefs, each de- had become Unitarian. Park Street’s dom Trail, and during the spring and housed many denominational organiza- picting an important ideal of the Con- founding members were determined summer months historical displays and tions, including the original Library and gregational churches. The bas-reliefs to restore an orthodox presence in tours are available for all visitors free the American Board of Commission- are carved from Knoxville marble, downtown Boston. They selected a of charge. ers for Foreign Missions, the nation’s known for its pinkish-gray coloring, prominent street corner and erected a oldest Protestant missionary society. and are six feet wide and five feet tall. building with a spire measurably taller In subsequent years, 14 Beacon Street They were originally designed by Do- than the Massachusetts State House at would become an address familiar to mingo Mora, a Spaniard who was una- Congregationalists around the world. ble to continue his work due to the Spanish-American War of 1898. We hope you enjoyed your short journey into Boston’s religious past. In the 1960s, most of the Congrega- Mora’s work was completed by tional Christian churches became part Stadtler, a Swiss artist who worked Those who want to know more are always welcome at the Congrega- of the United Church of Christ, and from plaster casts when carving the tional Library & Archive (we are open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. the denominational agencies followed tableaux on the building. to 5:00 p.m.). With advance notice we are glad to conduct tours for to new headquarters in New York and visitors. later Cleveland. Today the Congrega- Tremont Temple Religious Faith Law Cross Tremont Street and turn left, heading toward Citizens Bank. Continue down Tremont until you are about halfway down the block, just outside 73 Tremont, and look across the street. 88 Tremont Street By the early nineteenth century, Con- gregationalists had many religious neighbors on Beacon Hill. In 1838 Timothy Gilbert, an antislavery activist, left the wealthy Charles Street Baptist Church to protest their refusal to seat an African American in his rented pew. The first carving, looking from left to The second carving depicts the sign- Gilbert’s “free church,” later named right, commemorates the Pilgrims’ ing of the Mayflower Compact on Tremont Temple, opened its sanctuary observance of the Sabbath on Clark’s November 11, 1620, in Cape Cod to anyone who wished to worship and Island in Plymouth Bay on Sunday, Harbor (Provincetown). The tableau thus became one of the city’s first December 20, 1620, and speaks to represents the Puritan belief that interracial congregations. the ideal that one should “worship there should be “rule under law by according to conscience.” consent of the governed.” By the late nineteenth century, Trem- ont Temple’s large theatre-style build- Education Philanthropy The present building was erected ing was Boston’s largest indoor space. after fire destroyed the previous one The church helped pay its bills by rent- in 1893, and it was modeled after a ing its facilities to all comers—revivals, Venetian palace. By the early 1900s animal shows, abolitionist meetings, Tremont Temple was nationally fa- and political rallies. In its early years, mous for vigorous revival preaching the Congregational Library even rent- and for the thousands of people from ed space in the old Tremont Temple rural New England, the Canadian building. Maritimes, and around the world who flocked to the “stranger’s Sabbath home,” sometimes impeding traffic on Tremont Street. Today the church houses several racial-ethnic congregations. The third carving represents the ideal The final carving shows John Eliot The Granary Burying Ground is of “education for service” and shows preaching among the Native Ameri- across the street from Tremont Tem- the General Court of Massachusetts cans at Waban’s Wigwam, Nonantum ple and just below the windows of founding Harvard College at New- in 1642 and symbolizes the ideal of Congregational House. It is the final town (Cambridge) in October of philanthropy and “community wit- resting place of many members of 1636. ness.” Third Church, including “witch judge” The Granary Burying Ground Samuel Sewall. King’s Chapel & King’s Chapel Burying Ground The First Congregational House Continue up School Street and cross to the other side at the cross- From the sidewalk in front of City Convenience, facing the walk in front of Old City Hall. Keep walking up School Street until you Congregational House, proceed left, to the corner of Beacon arrive at King’s Chapel. and Somerset, walking away from the State House. Stop at the corner. Corner of School and many of its most famous members are Tremont Streets buried here: John Cotton and Gover- nor John Winthrop, as well as Hezeki- The Corner of Beacon & ah Usher, the colony’s first printer King’s Chapel was the Anglican church Somerset Streets and publisher, and Charles Bulfinch, established by Edmund Andros, who famed architect of many Boston land- The Library’s original home was a man- was appointed royal governor by King marks. sion at 23 Chauncy Street (near the old James II in 1686. Needless to say, Jordan’s and Filene’s department stores Andros was not a popular figure in in Downtown Crossing). In 1871, after Boston, and during his three short the collection had outgrown this space, years as governor was forced to re- the American Congregational Associa- main at home for fear of his safety. tion purchased the Somerset Club The colonists were used to managing House and the Gardner Estate, owned their own affairs, and they resented by the family of Boston philanthropist ed a central location for Congrega- the presence of an Anglican chapel in Isabella Stewart Gardner. The two tional organizations previously sited all the heart of Congregational Boston. buildings were remodeled and two around the city. The reading room years later, in 1873, the first Congrega- was large and gracious, and the Library The King’s Chapel Burying Ground is tional House was dedicated. collection continued to grow. To help right next door to the Church, down cover costs, the Congregational Tremont Street. Though named for its This building, sitting at the very top of House also rented space to several proximity to the Chapel, its historic Boston’s oldest neighborhood, provid- businesses, including a carpet company connection is with First Church, and and Professor Robert R.

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