First Church in Roxbury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The First Church in Roxbury |
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The First Church in Roxbury, Modern Day
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation |
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| Status | Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry Headquarters |
| Location | |
| Location | Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 1632 |
The First Church in Roxbury is a very old church building in Boston, Massachusetts. It is now the main office for the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry. People have used a church on this spot since 1632. That's when early English settlers built the first meetinghouse. The building you see today is the fifth one built here. It looks like churches from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
History of the Church Buildings
The First Meeting House (1632–1674)
The First Church of Roxbury was one of the first churches built by English settlers. In 1631, settlers in Roxbury were ready to start their own church. The church officially began when the first meeting house was built in 1632. This first building was very important to the community for over 40 years.
The first pastor, Reverend Thomas Weld, started his work in July 1632. We don't know exactly what the first meeting house looked like. But it was probably a simple, small building with a thatched roof. The church was a central place for the new community. Many settlers came to America for religious freedom. In 1645, the church helped create the "Free Schoole in Roxburie." This school is now known as Roxbury Latin School.
John Eliot: Missionary to Native Americans
John Eliot became the first teacher at the church in 1632. He was a Puritan missionary. Many people called him "the apostle to the Indians." This was because he learned the Algonquin language. This was the language spoken by Native Americans in the area.
Eliot used his language skills to translate parts of the Bible. He translated the Ten Commandments and the Lord's Prayer into Algonquin. He wanted to teach Native Americans about Puritan Christianity. He also helped introduce the idea of written language to them. Before this, Native Americans mainly used spoken language. Their written language was mostly pictures, like Egyptian hieroglyphs.
The Second Meeting House (1674–1741)
Roxbury's population grew, so a new, bigger meeting house was needed. People from nearby Muddy River (now Brookline, Mass) also joined the church. The first meeting in this new building was on November 15, 1674.
Around 1693, the church added pews for the first time. Before this, there were only seats. In 1711, some members left to form The Second Church in Roxbury. The population kept growing. In 1736, the church decided to build another new meeting house. They chose a spot slightly north of the old one. The old building was taken down when the new one started.
The Third Meeting House (1741–1744)
A larger meeting house was finished in the summer of 1741. The first meeting in this new building was on August 31, 1741. But sadly, a fire broke out in February 1743 or 1744. The fire completely destroyed the meeting house. The church members then met in a brick schoolhouse. They used it until a new church could be built.
The Fourth Meeting House (1744–1803)
After the fire, the fourth meeting house was built. It was on the same spot and looked like the third one. It was finished in 1746. This building served the church until the American Revolutionary War began.
The Siege of Boston and the Church
From March 1775 to April 1776, no public meetings were held in the church. This was during the Siege of Boston, which was the start of the Revolutionary War. The meeting house was used as a signal station for the army. Because of this, British bombs targeted it. By the time the British left Boston in 1776, the church was damaged in many places.
The war scattered the church members. There was no official minister until 1782.
After the Revolutionary War
Once a new pastor was named in 1782, the church went back to serving the community. People worked to repair the damaged meeting house. In 1787, a group of men gave the church a clock. It was placed on the bell tower.
In 1802, the church decided to build a new meeting house. They chose a plan, and the old meeting house was sold. The last time the old meeting house was used was on April 17, 1803.
The Fifth Meeting House (1804–Present)
The building standing today was finished in 1804. It is the fifth meetinghouse for the First Church of Roxbury. It is an important building in the John Eliot Square National Register District.
The church is a two-story wooden building. It has a tall bell tower. It was designed in a style called "Federal Meetinghouse." The building is about 80 feet long and 70 feet wide. It can seat around 800 people.
The tower was rebuilt after a hurricane in 1954. It holds a bell bought in 1819. This bell came from the Paul Revere Foundry. It weighs 1,538 pounds! The clock on the tower's front was added in 1863. In 1825, the church became part of the Universalist church.
The Church Today
Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry
Today, the First Church in Roxbury is the home of the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry. This group is based in Roxbury, Boston, MA. It is a social justice organization. They offer programs that help the community.
These programs include:
- Learning and fun activities for children and teens.
- Safe places for people and families escaping domestic violence.
- Affordable homes and community living for young women. This includes temporary housing for those leaving shelters.
- Volunteer services to help other non-profit groups in Roxbury.
