First Church in Boston Facts for Kids

First Church in 2008

The First Church in Boston is a special church with a long history. It's a Unitarian Universalist church today, but it started as a Congregationalist church. It was founded way back in 1630 by the first Puritan settlers who came to Boston, Massachusetts. These settlers were led by John Winthrop.

The church building you see today is located at 66 Marlborough Street in the Back Bay area of Boston. It was designed by a famous architect named Paul Rudolph in a modern style. This new design came after a big fire in 1968. The building even includes parts of an older, beautiful Gothic-style church that was built in 1867. The First Church has always had strong ties with Harvard University.

A Look at the Church's History
The Church's Architecture
- A Modern Design
- Inside the Church
Important People Connected to the Church
Images for kids
See also

A Look at the Church's History

How the Church Began

The church community started in 1630 when settlers arrived on a ship called the Arbella. They first landed in what is now Charlestown, Massachusetts. John Wilson was their first minister. Two years later, they built their first meeting house across the Charles River in Boston, near where State Street is today. John Wilson officially became the minister there.

In 1633, John Cotton came from England. He helped set up the rules for the Congregational Church, which was the official church of Massachusetts at the time. An important moment happened in 1677 when Dorcas ye blackmore, a freed slave, became the first African American person to join the church.

Changes Over Time

In the 1700s, Charles Chauncy was a minister at First Church for sixty years. He was known for disagreeing with the very emotional style of preaching used by Jonathan Edwards during a time called the Great Awakening.

Around the early 1800s, the church went through a big change. It slowly became a Unitarian church by the mid-1800s. Many other churches in Massachusetts also changed this way. In 1833, the state churches in Massachusetts, including First Church, officially separated from the government.

Moving to a New Location

In the 1800s, the First Church moved to the Back Bay area of Boston. The building at 66 Marlborough Street was built in 1868. It was designed by architects William Robert Ware and Henry Van Brunt.

Another church, called Second Church, was founded in 1649 as Boston grew. Famous ministers like Increase Mather and Cotton Mather served there. Both First and Second Churches eventually moved from the busy downtown area to the newer, more fashionable Back Bay. This area was created by filling in lowlands in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

After a terrible fire in 1968, the First Church and Second Church decided to join together. They built a new church building at the 66 Marlborough Street location.

The Church's Architecture

A Modern Design

The current church building is very unique. It still uses the damaged stone front and the "puddingstone" steeple (tall tower) from the old church that burned down in 1968. After looking at many ideas, the church members chose the design by Paul Rudolph. The new building was finished in 1972.

Inside the Church

The inside of the church is bright and open, with high ceilings. It has a special look because of Rudolph's unique "corduroy concrete" walls. These walls are made of concrete that has been treated to look like corduroy fabric. Even decades later, the inside of the church is kept in perfect condition. Great care is taken to keep the walls as they were designed and to recreate the original fabric decorations.

The 1868 steeple tower
The burned rose window frame and front of the building
Outside steps that look like an amphitheater
A view towards the main worship area
The organ loft, with its "corduroy concrete" finish

Important People Connected to the Church

Many important people have been part of the First Church's history. Here are a few:

John Winthrop: He was the founder and governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
John Wilson: The church's first pastor from 1632 to 1667.
John Cotton: A pastor from 1633 to 1652 who helped shape the church.
Charles Chauncy: A pastor for 60 years (1727–1787) who was known for his calm approach to religion.
William Emerson: A pastor from 1799 to 1811.
Stephen Kendrick: The current minister since 2001.