King's Chapel facts for kids
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King's Chapel
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King's Chapel in Boston in August 2019
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| Location | Tremont and School Streets, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
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| Built | 1754 |
| Architect | Peter Harrison |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 74002045 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 2, 1974 |
| Designated NHL | October 9, 1960 |
King's Chapel is a very old and important church in Boston, Massachusetts. It is known for its unique style of worship. The church building was finished in 1754. It was designed by a famous architect named Peter Harrison. Because of its amazing design, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1960.
King's Chapel is a Christian church that is part of the Unitarian Universalist Association. It has a special way of worship that mixes old traditions with a Unitarian Christian faith. Even though it's called King's Chapel, the old cemetery next to it, called King's Chapel Burying Ground, is not connected to the church. The cemetery was there long before the current church building.
Contents
History of King's Chapel
King's Chapel was started in 1686 by the Royal Governor, Sir Edmund Andros. It was the very first Anglican Church in the New England colonies. This was during the time of King James II.
The first King's Chapel was a wooden church built in 1688. It was placed on a public burying ground. This was because no one would sell land for a church that wasn't Congregationalist. At that time, the Congregational church was the official religion in Massachusetts.
Building the Stone Church
In 1749, work began on the stone church you see today. Peter Harrison designed it. The new stone church was built around the older wooden one. When the stone church was ready in 1754, the wooden church was taken apart. Its pieces were carefully removed through the windows of the new building.
The wood from the old church was then sent to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. There, it was used to build St. John's Anglican Church. Sadly, that church was destroyed by fire in 2001, but it has since been rebuilt. The original plans for King's Chapel included a tall steeple, but there wasn't enough money to build it.
Changes After the Revolution
During the American Revolution, many people who supported the King (called Loyalists) left Boston. They went to Nova Scotia or England. Because of this, King's Chapel was empty for a while. People started calling it the "Stone Chapel."
The church reopened in 1782. It became a Unitarian church under the leadership of James Freeman. In 1785, Freeman changed the traditional prayer book to fit Unitarian ideas. Even though Freeman thought King's Chapel was still Episcopalian, the first Episcopal bishop refused to approve him. Today, the church still uses its own special worship style. It is now a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
Inside King's Chapel
Inside the church, you can see beautiful wooden columns. These columns have special tops called Corinthian capitals. They were carved by hand in 1758. The church has box pews for seating. These were originally owned by families who paid to have them. They often decorated their pews to their own liking.
One special pew is Pew No. 30, which was the Governor's Pew. On October 27, 1789, George Washington himself sat in this pew! The pews look the same today because they were all made uniform in the 1920s.
Music and the Bell
Music has always been important at King's Chapel. The church got its first organ in 1713. Over the years, several different organs have been installed. The current organ was built in 1964. It has decorations from a much older organ from 1756. For many years, a famous American composer named Daniel Pinkham was the organist and music director.
The King's Chapel bell was made in England and hung in 1772. In 1814, it cracked. It was then recast (melted down and made again) by Paul Revere and Sons. This bell is the largest one ever made by Revere's company. It was also the last one made during Paul Revere's lifetime. The bell has been rung for services ever since.
Gallery
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King's Chapel at Tremont Street and School Street, Boston, Mass., June 1920. Leon Abdalian Collection.
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Kings Chapel at night, 2015
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Original bell cast by Paul Revere, 2015
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Kings Chapel Organ, 2015
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Boston Subway ventilation shaft in the Kings Chapel Burying Ground
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Kings Chapel Burying Ground, 2015
See also
In Spanish: King's Chapel (Boston) para niños
