Old North Church facts for kids

This page is about the Christ Church in the City of Boston. For other places, see Old North.

"One if by land, two if by sea" redirects here. For the restaurant, see One If By Land, Two If By Sea (restaurant).

Quick facts for kids Old North Church
Christ Church in the City of Boston
Old North Church in Boston in August 2019
42°21′59″N 71°3′16″W / 42.36639°N 71.05444°W / 42.36639; -71.05444
Location	Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Country	United States
Denomination	Episcopal
Website	Old North Church
Architecture
Architect(s)	William Price
Architectural type	Georgian
Administration
Diocese	Diocese of Massachusetts

Interior of the Old North Church

The Old North Church (officially called Christ Church in the City of Boston) is a historic church in the North End neighborhood of Boston. It is part of the Episcopal faith. Built in 1723, it is the oldest church building still standing in Boston. It is also a special National Historic Landmark.

The Old North Church is famous for its part in Paul Revere's midnight ride on April 18, 1775. On that night, the church's caretaker, Robert Newman, hung two lanterns in the church's tall steeple. This signal told Revere and other riders that British soldiers were moving. This warning happened just before the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which were the first battles of the American Revolutionary War.

Building the Church

Work on the Old North Church started in April 1723 and continued all year. Nine months later, the church was ready enough for its first worship service on December 29. Only some inside finishing touches were left to do. The church's design was inspired by the famous English architect Christopher Wren. He helped rebuild London after the Great Fire. Timothy Cutler became the church's first leader, called a rector.

Early History and Trade

In the 1700s, Boston was a busy port city. It was important for trade across the Atlantic Ocean. The Old North Church, first called Christ Church in the City of Boston, opened in 1723. It was Boston's second Anglican Church. It became a social place for younger merchants and ship captains. The older Anglican church, King's Chapel, was mostly for Boston's very rich people. The Old North Church gave newer merchants a place to connect and build trust for their businesses.

Some church members were involved in trade that brought goods from far away. For example, cacao beans were traded from the Dutch colony of Suriname. They were then sent to the British colony of Barbados. This made the cacao seem like a "British" product. This allowed merchants to send it to London, even though British people were not supposed to trade outside the British Empire.

Another important product was Logwood. This wood was used to make purple-red and black dyes for fabric. Logwood grew only in the Yucatan Peninsula. It was shipped from what is now Belize. Many Boston merchants made money from the logwood trade. In 1727, a group of traders called the "Gentlemen of the Bay of Honduras" gave several loads of logwood to the Old North Church. This donation helped pay for the church's first steeple. Today, a special pew called "The Bay Pew" honors these donors. It shows how some pews might have looked.

Slavery in Colonial Boston

Slavery existed in the New England colonies starting in the 1630s. During wars with Native American tribes, prisoners were sometimes sold to the West Indies or Caribbean. In return, enslaved Africans were brought to the Thirteen Colonies on the Atlantic Coast. Most went to farms in the South. But some were brought to northern cities like Boston.

In the 1700s, about 10-15% of Boston's population were enslaved Black African people. Many wealthy families in Boston owned enslaved Black and Indigenous people to help with household work. Many members of the Old North Church owned enslaved people. Some also profited from businesses that relied on enslaved labor. Church records show the baptisms, marriages, and funerals of both free and enslaved Black and Indigenous people.

The Old North Church's first rector, Timothy Cutler, owned an enslaved woman named Ann. He was also a missionary who aimed to convert enslaved Black and Indigenous people. The organization he worked for supported slavery and owned a large farm in Barbados that used enslaved labor.

Church Interior

The Old North Church's main worship area, called the sanctuary, opened in December 1723. The special box pews in the sanctuary cost money to buy. Owners also paid a yearly tax and weekly donations. If they fell behind, the church could sell their pew. Owning a pew meant you were a church owner and could vote on church matters. There were also two pews for visitors, hoping they would join the church.

The beautiful brass chandeliers were added in 1723. The organ used today was put in place in 1759. It was built by Thomas Johnston of Boston. The four angels around the organ were given by Captain Thomas Gruchy in 1746. He captured them from a French ship during a war.

In 1726, more pews and benches were built in the North and South Galleries upstairs. These seats were for people with less money, children under 12, and Black and Indigenous church members. The Upper Gallery had cheaper box pews. Families sometimes shared a pew to save money. Enslaved people were expected to be baptized and attend church with their owners. They sat in the gallery, not with their owners. It was often hard to hear sermons from there, and it was very cold in winter and hot in summer. Black and Indigenous people attended for many reasons. Some were forced, some sought social standing, and some came for their own spiritual beliefs. They faced uncomfortable conditions, but it was often necessary for their lives in colonial Boston.

The American Revolution

A plaque on the side of Old North Church describing actions of Paul Revere in 1775

In April 1775, Paul Revere asked three patriots in Boston to hang two lanterns in the steeple. These men were the church caretaker Robert Newman and Captain John Pulling Jr. Another person, Thomas Bernard, watched for British soldiers outside. The lanterns were a signal to patriots in Charlestown, across the Charles River. They warned that the British Army was moving.

Revere and William Dawes later rode to Lexington with the same message. But the lanterns were a faster way to tell backup riders in Charlestown. These riders would then warn Lexington and Concord in case Revere and Dawes were caught. The lanterns were shown for less than a minute so British troops wouldn't see them. But it was long enough for the message to reach Charlestown.

Many American schoolchildren know the meaning of the two lanterns. "One if by land, and two if by sea" comes from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1860 poem "Paul Revere's Ride". One lantern meant the British Army would march over land. Two lanterns meant they were taking boats across the Charles River. The British took the "sea" route, so two lanterns were hung. After seeing the signal, the Charlestown Patriots sent a rider to Lexington. The warning then spread to many towns by other riders, ringing bells, beating drums, and firing guns.

After the Revolution

Between 1806 and 1912, the original box pews were changed to slip pews. These are the rows of benches often seen in churches today. This change allowed more people to attend services. In 1912, the church was restored. Some of the original doors and wood from 1723 were put back. The pews are now numbered as they were in 1731.

From 1831 to 1912, a third level was added to the gallery on the West wall. This area was built for children attending Sunday School in the 1800s. After the 1912 restoration, the Old North Church became open to everyone. Seating was first-come, first-served.

1912 Restoration

In 1912, the Old North Church was rebuilt to look more like the simple churches of early Massachusetts. The goal was to make it look like the Founding Fathers would have seen it. Architects R. Clipson Sturgis and Henry C. Ross led the work. The old floor timbers and gallery stairs were replaced. The box pews were rebuilt, and the raised pulpit was restored. The inside wood was painted white. The church reopened on December 29, 1912, which was its 189th anniversary. Theodore Roosevelt attended the reopening.

Church Structure

The Steeples

A c. 1882 drawing of Old North Church showing the 1807 steeple that was destroyed in 1954

The Old North Church's steeple is famous for its role in Paul Revere's lantern signal in 1775. This signal helped start the American Revolution. Because of this, the steeple is a symbol of freedom in the U.S.

In 1727, the "Gentlemen of the Bay of Honduras" donated logwood to help pay for the first steeple. In 1737, the church raised more money. The spire, designed by William Price, was finished in 1740. It was lifted onto the tower. A golden weathervane made by Shem Drowne was placed on top. This made Old North Church the tallest building in Boston. A young Paul Revere used to ring the bells here. This was the steeple he used for his 1775 signal.

The first steeple was destroyed by a hurricane in 1804. A "very strong storm" blew the wooden spire down. Two years later, a new spire was built and put up in 1806. This new design was based on drawings by Charles Bulfinch.

The second steeple was knocked down by Hurricane Carol on August 31, 1954. It crashed onto the streets below. This time, the church raised money from all over the country. In October 1955, the third spire was finished. It looked like the first original steeple. It was made stronger with steel to prevent another disaster. Drowne's original weathervane, which had been found after the storm, was put back on top. This is the steeple you see at the Old North Church today. The church is now 174 feet (53 m) tall.

Bells

The Old North Church steeple

The Old North Church has eight change ringing bells. They were made by Abel Rudhall in Gloucester, England, in 1744 and hung in 1745. One bell has a special message: "We are the first ring of bells cast for the British Empire in North America, A.R. 1744." The bells were repaired in 1894 and 1975. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Guild of Bellringers takes care of them and rings them often.

The Crypt

In 2009, an expert started looking at the 1,100 bodies buried in 37 tombs in the church basement. The crypt was used from 1732 to 1860. Each tomb is sealed with a wooden or slate door. Many doors were covered with plaster in the 1850s.

Important people buried here include the first rector, Timothy Cutler, and his wife. They are buried under the altar. Other notable figures include British Marine Major John Pitcairn. He died from injuries at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Many other soldiers killed in this battle are also buried with him. Captain Samuel Nicholson of the USS Constitution is also in the crypt. Visitors can take a tour to see the crypt and the bell-ringing room.

Clough House

The Clough House is a historic building behind the Old North Church on Unity Street. Ebenezer Clough, a skilled brick mason, built this house around 1715. He also helped build the Old North Church in 1723. The Clough House is one of only three brick buildings left in Boston from the early 1700s. Today, it is an exhibit, a gallery, and office space. It also has a printing office and a gift shop.

Old North Church Gift Shop

The building that is now the gift shop was built in 1918. It was first a chapel for Italian immigrants in the North End. The Old North Church helped these new people. The church's rector, William Dewart, let them use the Old North Church for services in Italian. A woman named Cecelia Frances Lincoln helped pay for a new chapel if Old North provided the land. The chapel opened in 1918. However, fewer immigrants came from Italy, and people moved to the suburbs. By the 1950s, the chapel was no longer used.

Around this time, more people became interested in the Old North Church as a historic site. The church bought the building and made it a museum and shop. The museum part was later removed, but the building is still the Old North Church's gift shop today. Many original details remain, like the cross on the roof, carved figures, and stone lions. Because of its history, the gift shop is on the National Register of Historic Places.

19th Century Life

Where the Parish House stands now, there was once the Salem Street Academy. This was a Sunday school for children. The Old North Church helped run this school, which opened in 1815. The Sunday school was important for the community. It gave parents time to attend church services. It also allowed people with less money to attend a church service, even if they didn't have "suitable" clothing for a regular service.

In 1833, Reverend William Croswell, who was the rector of Old North, invited Reverend William Levington to speak at the church. Levington was the third Black man to become an Episcopal priest in America. He came to raise money for his own church and school for free Black children in Baltimore.

U.S. Bicentennial Celebration

Cyrus E. Dallin's equestrian statue of Paul Revere near the Old North Church honors Revere's famous ride.

On April 18, 1975, U.S. President Gerald Ford visited the Old North Church. In a speech shown on TV, Ford said that people in the future should look back and say: "We were a society which combined reason with liberty and hope with freedom. May it be said above all: We kept the faith, freedom flourished, liberty lived."

After Ford's speech, two lanterns were lit by Robert Newman Ruggles and Robert Newman Sheet. They were descendants of Robert Newman, who lit the original lanterns in 1775. President Ford then lit a third lantern. This lantern hangs in a church window today.

On July 11, 1976, Queen Elizabeth II visited Boston. This was part of the celebrations for the United States Bicentennial. She mentioned President Ford's speech from the year before. She said: "At the Old North Church last year, your President lit a third lantern dedicated to America's third century of freedom and to renewed faith in the American ideals. May its light never be dimmed."

The Queen and Prince Philip attended a Sunday service at the Old North Church. The Rev. Robert W. Golledge led the service. He gave the Queen a copy of a silver cup made by Paul Revere. The Queen also saw the famous statue of Paul Revere near the church before leaving.

Church Leaders (Rectors)

The first leader of Old North Church was Reverend Dr. Timothy Cutler. He was born in Massachusetts in 1684 and went to Harvard College. He was the president of Yale College until 1722. Cutler then decided to become a priest in the Church of England. He traveled to England for his ordination. He returned to Boston a year later with doctorates from Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Cutler began his service at Christ Church (Old North) on December 29, 1723. He served until he died in 1765. He is buried in the crypt under the altar.

Another leader was Reverend Mather Byles Jr.. Like Cutler, Byles owned enslaved people. Church records show the baptism of Byles’ enslaved servant, a man named Cato, in April 1775. Byles served Old North Church from 1768 to April 1775. In 1774, the British Parliament closed the port of Boston. This made it hard for the church to pay Byles. Also, Byles was loyal to the British King. On April 18, 1775, Byles gave back his church keys. That evening, two men, likely John Pulling Jr. and Robert Newman, climbed the steeple and lit the two lanterns. In 1776, Byles and his family, likely with their enslaved people, sailed to New Brunswick. In 1778, a law said Byles could not return to Massachusetts.

The Christ Church (Old North Church) was closed until August 1778. In the summer of 1776, Stephen Lewis came from England as a chaplain for British troops. He was captured as a prisoner of war. In 1778, Lewis was exchanged for an American prisoner. Before going to New York, he performed a private baptism at Christ Church. In July 1778, Lewis said he wanted to become a citizen of Massachusetts. He became the rector of Christ Church in August 1778 and started services again. Lewis traveled to other churches that didn't have a permanent leader. During this time, prayers in American Anglican churches changed. They no longer prayed for the King. Lewis served until 1784.

Other Worshippers

Recent studies have looked into the lives of Black and Indigenous people who were part of the Old North Church. This research helps us understand their experiences better.

The Humphries family was a free Black couple, John and Elizabeth. They first appear in church records in March 1748 when their daughter Deborah was baptized. Over the next four years, they baptized seven more children. Five of their children were baptized on the same day. One daughter died shortly after being baptized. John died in 1751. The Humphries family sometimes received small donations from the church. After John died, three of their children were sent to work for Alexander Chamberlain, a church member. Their youngest child, Ruth, was only six when she was sent to work for twelve years.

An Indigenous woman named Jerusha Will was taken in by the Humphries family in 1743. She was baptized at Old North Church in May 1743 but died a few days later.

In October 1765, an "Elizabeth Humphries" married an enslaved man named Robert Hunter. It is not known if this was the mother or daughter. This marriage is important because Elizabeth was a free woman marrying an enslaved man. In the colonies, a child's status depended on their mother. By marrying, Elizabeth and Robert made sure their children would be born free.

The Other "Old North"

Before the Old North Church (Christ Church, Boston) was built, there was another church in Boston also called the "Old North" Meetinghouse. This Congregationalist church was in North Square, near what is now "Paul Revere's house." This church was once led by Reverend Cotton Mather, who is known for his involvement in the Salem witch trials.

Today at Old North Church

Today, Old North Church is one of four church sites on the Freedom Trail, a famous walking tour. It is still an active church of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. It holds a Sunday morning service at 11 a.m. The current leader is the Rev. Dr. Matthew Cadwell, who started in November 2020.

Researching History

From June 2022 to 2023, a group called Old North Illuminated hired Dr. Jaimie D. Crumley. She is a Research Fellow who studies the experiences of Black and Indigenous people connected to the Old North Church in the 1700s and 1800s. Dr. Crumley's research has added new information to the historic site. She created a video series filmed inside the church and new content for audio guides.

Dr. Crumley's online video series is called Illuminating the Unseen. In the series, she explains how she finds and uses historical sources. She shares the stories of Black and Indigenous people from Boston who were part of Old North Church and the North End neighborhood. Dr. Crumley looks at church records, wills, letters, and old newspapers. She tries to find the stories of people who might have been overlooked in the past.

Illuminating the Unseen has eight episodes:

"Race and Evangelism in the Church of England"
"Indigenous Women at Old North Church in the British Colonial Period"
"Old North and Enslaved People in the British Colonial Period"
"The Social Construction of Race in Early Massachusetts History"
"Old North and Black Freedom"
"John Eliot and the Conversion of Native Peoples in Boston's North End"
"Paul Revere's Ride and the Mark of Urban Slavery"
"People of Color as Children and Elders in 18th and 19th Century Boston"

You can find more information using the link at the bottom of the page.

Images for kids

Old North Church in Boston in August 2019
Interior of the Old North Church
A plaque on the side of Old North Church describing actions of Paul Revere in 1775
A circa 1882 illustration of Old North Church showing the 1807 steeple that was destroyed in 1954
The Old North Church steeple
Cyrus E. Dallin's equestrian statue of Paul Revere near the Old North Church commemorates Revere's memorable ride.