Old South Church in Boston
Why is it significant?
Look up at the breathtaking 246-foot bell tower of Old South Church in Boston, rising dramatically on the northwest corner of Copley Square.
Key Facts
| Place | Old South Church in Boston |
|---|---|
| Address | 645 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116, United States |
| Geo Coordinates | 42.35050, -71.07880 |
| Part of Walk | Back Bay, Copley Square and Commonwealth Avenue Mall: Boston's Victorian Grandeur |
| Generated | Generated |
Look up at the breathtaking 246-foot bell tower of Old South Church in Boston, rising dramatically on the northwest corner of Copley Square. Completed in 1875, this magnificent sanctuary is considered one of the finest examples of High Victorian Gothic ecclesiastical architecture in North America, designed by Boston architects Charles Amos Cummings and Willard T. Sears under the direct influence of British critic John Ruskin.
The congregation of Old South Church is one of the most historic in the nation, founded in 1669. Its original downtown meetinghouse on Washington Street was the legendary gathering site for over five thousand angry colonists on the night of December 16, 1773, from which patriots marched to the harbor to stage the Boston Tea Party.
When the congregation relocated to the newly fashionable Back Bay in the 1870s, they brought their historic 1731 bronze bell with them, installing it in this soaring Venetian Gothic campanile. The exterior is a marvel of Ruskinian polychrome masonry: bands of red Roxbury puddingstone, yellow sandstone, and dark Pennsylvania slate are layered with intricate gothic carvings and copper cresting. Inside, the sanctuary features a vaulted wooden ceiling inspired by medieval Scottish halls, stained-glass windows depicting biblical and American historical themes, and a historic 1921 E.M. Skinner pipe organ. During the Boston Marathon, the church bell rings joyously to welcome runners crossing the nearby finish line on Boylston Street, serving as a beacon of community celebration.
The rich interplay of colorful stones, soaring arches, and pointed gables gives Old South Church an almost fairytale grandeur against the modern city backdrop. It stands as a vibrant testament to the enduring spirit of a congregation that has championed religious and civil liberties since colonial times.
Walk south along Dartmouth Street toward the grand entrance of the Prudential Center.