United First Parish Church facts for kids
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United First Parish Church (Unitarian) of Quincy
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The United First Parish Church, Quincy, Massachusetts
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1306 Hancock Street, Quincy, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1828 |
| Architect | Parris, Alexander |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000734 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 30, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | December 30, 1970 |
The United First Parish Church is a special church in Quincy, Massachusetts. It's a Unitarian Universalist church that started way back in 1639. The building you see today was built in 1828. It was designed by Alexander Parris and built by Abner Joy.
This church is super important because of its connection to the famous Adams family. They helped pay for it, and four members of the family are buried there. Because of this, it's known as the Church of the Presidents. Two American Presidents, John Adams and John Quincy Adams, went to this church. Their wives, Abigail Adams and Louisa Catherine Adams, also attended. All four are buried in a special room called a crypt under the church. You can even see Pew number 54, which John Quincy Adams and his family used. It has a special plaque and ribbon.
Church History and Design
The church started in 1636 as part of a church in Boston. It became its own church in 1639. Back then, the whole area was called Braintree. So, the church was known as "Ye Church of Braintry." When it first started, it was a Puritan Congregationalist church. Over time, it changed. In the 1700s, it became Unitarian. Then, in the 1900s, it became Unitarian Universalist.
The church building from 1828 is made from local granite. It's a great example of Greek Revival style. This style looks like ancient Greek temples. The front of the church has four huge granite columns. These columns might have been the biggest in the United States at the time! Each column is about 25 feet (7.6 meters) tall and weighs around 25 tons.
Above the main entrance, there's a two-part tower. The bottom part is plain and long. The top part is square and has clock faces on each side. It's topped with an open dome supported by eight columns.
President John Adams helped pay for the church by donating land. Most of the granite for the church came from the Adams family's own quarry. However, the giant columns came from a different local quarry. The Adams quarry wasn't deep enough for such tall pieces of stone.
The church's first bell was made by Paul Revere. But it wasn't loud enough to be a fire alarm. So, it was melted down and a new, louder bell was made. Inside the church, the domed ceiling is very unique. It shows a passion flower surrounded by lotuses. The beautiful mahogany altar is also original to the church.
Adams Family Burial Site
Both President John Adams and his son, President John Quincy Adams, are buried here. Their wives, Abigail Adams and Louisa Catherine Adams, are also buried with them. They rest in a family vault under the church.
It's very rare for a church to have a president's tomb. Only one other church in the United States has a presidential burial site. That's the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.. President Woodrow Wilson and his wife, Edith Wilson, are buried there.
Images for kids
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The church as depicted in a c. 1851–1854 engraving
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2005 view of the interior and its decorative plaster domed ceiling
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See also
