First Baptist Church (Boston, Massachusetts) facts for kids
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First Baptist Church
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Location | Boston, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1872 |
| Architect | Henry Hobson Richardson; Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| Part of | Back Bay Historic District (ID73001948) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000146 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 23, 1972 |
| Designated CP | August 14, 1973 |
The First Baptist Church in Boston is a very old church. It is sometimes called the "Brattle Square Church". This church community started way back in 1665. It is one of the oldest Baptist churches in the United States.
In its early days, the church members had to meet in secret at people's homes. The first church building even had its doors nailed shut by the Puritans in 1680! The church then had to move to Noddle's Island. To avoid problems, the church was disguised as a tavern, and members traveled by water to worship. Today, since 1882, the church is located at the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Clarendon Street in the Back Bay area of Boston.
Contents
Discovering the First Baptist Church's History
How the Church Began: 1665–1837
The First Baptist Church community started in 1665. This was a brave step because a law in Massachusetts at the time said people couldn't disagree with infant baptism. Many early members and their first pastor, Thomas Gould, faced difficulties for their beliefs.
Even the first president of Harvard College, Henry Dunster, had to leave his job. This happened because he refused to baptize his baby. He was influenced by other Baptist ministers who also faced challenges in Massachusetts.
In 1679, the Boston Baptists built their first meetinghouse. It was in the North End of Boston. Later, in the early 1700s, a bigger wooden building replaced it. The church grew a lot under the leadership of Samuel Stillman for 43 years. He even kept the church open for services when the British took over Boston.
In 1682, some members of the church started a new mission in what is now Kittery, Maine. Because of problems with other churches, this group later moved to Charleston, South Carolina. Today, it is known as the First Baptist Church in Charleston.
New Homes for the Church: 1837–1882
In 1837, the First Baptist community moved into a new brick church building. This was their fourth meeting place. It was located at the corner of Hanover Street and Union Street. The church stayed at this spot until 1882.
The Current Building: 1882–Present
The church building you see today is the fifth home for the First Baptist community. It was designed by a famous architect named Henry Hobson Richardson. It was built between 1869 and 1871 and opened in 1872. This building was first used by a different church group called the Unitarians. However, that group soon stopped meeting there.
In 1881, the First Baptist community bought this beautiful building for $100,000. They have been there since 1882. The church has a very special tower. It has unique carvings made by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. He is the same artist who created the Statue of Liberty!
These carvings show four important religious ceremonies. They also feature faces of famous people from Boston, like Longfellow and Hawthorne. You can also spot Abraham Lincoln and some of Bartholdi's friends from that time. This church was one of Richardson's first big projects in Boston. Later, he designed his most famous work, Trinity Church. The First Baptist Church building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
See also
