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Old South Church

4.6 (31 reviews)
Closed 8:00 am - 7:00 pm

Old South Church Photos

Recommended Reviews - Old South Church

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Whitney D.

A very welcoming church. They don't turn anyone away doesn't matter your religion or what not. I only really come here once a year during Boston Marathon weekend. They hold a blessing of the Athlete service the Sunday before Marathon Monday. This church is very nice looking inside. Everyone who works here is helpful and nice.

Sanctuary in gothic revival style
Jenn V.

This review is based on a tour only, and not a sermon. The architecture is gorgeous. The greeting at the door shows ALL are welcome which is the way it should be. There was no charge for a tour and there is a great history timeline of the church at the back which shows its involvement in the planning of the Boston Yes Party. The sanctuary is stunning and worth the time.

A W.

I was a guest at my cousins wedding recently. The church was historic... Ben Franklin was baptized here. There is Tea Party history here as well! The organ sounded great. It was warm, but they provided fans. As a non-religious person, I really appreciated the welcoming sign on the outside of the building. I included a pic.

Ligaya T.

"In art the heart, the head, and the hand of a man come together." - John Ruskin, inspiration behind Old South. This great church has stood on the northwest side of Copley Square since 1873 so it's had more than enough time to garner attention from us yelpers yet has apparently been overshadowed by the BPL and Trinity Church. Though it's stature is not as impressive, it's lineage is just as strong and is absolutely worth a gander completing a wonderful trifecta of history with its said neighbors. Originally founded on Washington and Milk Streets in 1669, its pews supported the bums of many a notable figure: Samuel Adams, Ben Franklin, Dave Chappelle (Okay, maybe not. Just seeing if you're really reading.) And has since committed to urban ministry with relatively liberal notions on race, class and sexuality, drawing a diverse and lively congregation. Currently the minister is female and the church is thriving. Erected by the same duo to create the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the structure as a similar Venetian aesthetic indicated by the arches on the 250 ft high campanile and the ornate wrought iron work but incorporates local materials like Roxbury puddingstone. Crazy fact: the bell in the steeple weighs over a TON. Imagine the reverberations. I just wonder how the hell they got it up there. Also notable to the art buff, Louis Comfort Tiffany (of the stained glass fame though he bit the work of La Farge) did an entire interior revamping at the turn of the century which was later removed and restored to it's more simple original state which is nice, but not incredible. Okay, enough commentary. Onto the practical: they've got a cool jazz service on Thursday nights, a soulful choir that practices in the summer (open to all), an amazing organ with 7,600 pipes in the chancel, church school and Bible study. So do your thing if you're into all that (gobbledygook), or wander over to whet your appetite for Trinity. (Lordy. It's almost 3am on a Sunday night and I'm writing about the architecture in churches. I am my father's daughter.)

Rhonda W.

We happened upon this cathedral and thought we'd go in for a peak ..they were very gracious and welcoming. No fee like the one across the street and they were practicing the pipe organ which was nice to hear.

At night.
Torterry C.

Old South Church is one of the popular spots to visit in Boston, also one of the historical placesin Boston. It was designed in the Gothic Revival style, Established in the year 1669, it is also one of the older religious communities in the United States. also because of the location of it, made it not so different to find and hang around. From the architecture perspective, the church is quite different with most of the churches I have visited back in Europe. The style, the choice of color. It is quite special. The church isn't so big, but it surely worth to pay a visit.

Fabulous "lighting the candles".

This is actually one of a few places that I always feel happy and having "peace in my heart" every time I come to "First Worship" and "Festival Worship". First of all, the church is as gorgeous and classic as "heaven on Earth", nice arts and decorations, the choirs and songs are spectacular and extraordinary. There are three fabulous and splendid Ministers who are Nancy, John and Anthony. They are extremely super polite, friendly and welcoming. Even the first time I came in, I felt like I m one of their family members. That makes me feel grateful and appreciating their kindness. And yes for sure, I have a strong Faith and Spirit in God, this church and the people involved in this community. Totally recommend it and..... Lastly, I honestly can see how bright and stupendous the future will be. You will definitely feel "peace be with you" when you are here!!! - Andy -

Just a light touch of wedding decorations

I was lucky enough to be married here and had an excellent experience. A historic landmark and a church that preaches the beauty and sacredness of love for all was just the kind of place we were looking for. The church itself is gorgeous. Our friends and family were so impressed by the beauty of the space when they walked in. With the woodwork and the stained glass windows, we hardly needed to decorate. The church administrator was very responsive over email and the wedding coordinator provided by the church was very professional. Your booking also comes with the church organist, who played the songs we requested for our processional and recessional with aplomb. The bridal suite has recently been remodeled, so there was a large bathroom and lots of room to get ready. I would highly recommend the Old South Church as a wedding venue.

Wedding Ceremony in Gordon Chapel at Old South Church

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11 years ago

Beautiful church for certain - can't spring for a 5 as just a spectator.

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Ask the Community - Old South Church

Review Highlights - Old South Church

The architecture is amazing and needs to be seen to be fully appreciated.

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Trinity Church in the City of Boston

Trinity Church in the City of Boston

4.3(89 reviews)
0.1 miBack Bay

Trinity Church is stunningly beautiful on the outside and even more so on the interior. But more…read moreimportant, the clergy and congregants were kind and accepting of these visitors. When last in Boston, there were renovations being done to the interior. There were no tours or services at the time, but there were windows made available to look in and get a glimpse. I promised myself that when I returned to Boston, that I would visit the Church for a service. The service was beautiful and it was completely packed. I am afraid that during the service, I could not help but take in every detail of the interior. Of course, I didn't feel like I should take any photos at that time (my next visit). Take some time to visit this physical testimony built to God when you are in Boston.

In mid-November 2025, I visited Trinity Church during a conference as it was only a 10 minute walk…read morefrom the hotel. This Episcopalian church is an American architectural gem and National Historical Landmark. You have to pay a $10 entrance fee to view the interior, but it's worth the expense if you enjoy history, art, or architecture. Alternatively, you can skip the interior and visit the Boston Public Library instead (which has no admission fee). Completed in 1877, Trinity Church is an architectural masterpiece of Henry Richardson who pioneered the "Richardsonian Romanesque" style of clay tile roofs, colorful interiors, and stone-faced exteriors with arches. You can see examples of this building design in Minneapolis, Detroit, Chicago, and Albany, NY. The interior has magnificent stained glass windows and a unique colorful design. One interesting fact from the Self-Guided tour booklet is that Boston's Back Bay was originally a tidal mud flat. So the heavy stone of Trinity Church rests on 4,500 wooden piles, which were pounded through 30 feet of gravel fill, silt, and clay.

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Trinity Church in the City of Boston - Easter Day services are on Sun., April 20, 2025, at 8 am, 10 am, and 12 pm-- including Blessing of the Runners for the Marathon this year!

Easter Day services are on Sun., April 20, 2025, at 8 am, 10 am, and 12 pm-- including Blessing of the Runners for the Marathon this year!

Trinity Church in the City of Boston - Main entrance - stairs and a ramp - handicap accessible

Main entrance - stairs and a ramp - handicap accessible

Trinity Church in the City of Boston - Gorgeous historic church in Copley Square - can't miss it!

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Gorgeous historic church in Copley Square - can't miss it!

Community Church of Boston - "Did the Resurrection turn Jesus gay?"

Community Church of Boston

5.0(2 reviews)
0.1 miBack Bay

What can you say about this place? What a deep and rich history that spans the 20th century's…read morepanoply of rad thought and political activism. A place of refuge from the storm to be renewed and go back out to fight The Man! Wonderful music, different every time I attend...classical, jazz, folk, hip hop....a really diverse and smart panoply of speakers make up a full schedule of sundays at Community Church. And it looks like the auditorium hosts a marvelous feast of radical organizing meetings, rehearsals, plays, movies, poetry readings and concerts. Check out this place, the last thang you'd expect in shi shi Back Bay's Copley Square, with its tourists, workplace professionals, and college students: a tribute to Radical Boston....from Sacco/Vanzetti to Defeat the Asshole named Trump. Long live CCB, way into its second century of vibrant community building!

I too am "opposed to any religion that indoctrinates kids," which is why my daughter attends sunday…read moreschool at the Community Church. Mike C's description of the church is mostly accurate with the exception of the singing for the children. They sing "Go Away in Peace" which is as non-denominational as it gets - I want my daughter to go in peace! Some of the topics the children explore are animal rights, conflicts in Sudan, Black History Month, homosexuality, etc through art, brainstorming, chats, or presentations. The director for the children's program, Justice School, is excellent and caring. I'd recommend anyone who wants to teach their children tolerance and open-mindedness to at least check out the program. Now, go away in peace.

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Community Church of Boston - #ACLU Training

#ACLU Training

Community Church of Boston

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St Cecilia Parish

St Cecilia Parish

4.1(14 reviews)
0.5 mi

I have been attending mass at Saint C's pretty regularly for about 2 years now. It is a beautiful…read morechurch, despite looking unassuming on the outside. Though it is always pretty crowded, they offer several mass times and if it works with your schedule, I would HIGHLY recommend attending when Fr. John Unni is leading the mass! (You can find all that information in the mass information on their website). Father John is the absolute best and consistently delivers homilies with meaning, reflection, and challenges us all to think more and be better, whether you are Catholic, Christian, or just spiritual, you will definitely have a deep reflection and takeaway from his message. He and the parish are also extremely inclusive and welcoming to all people, much more than you might expect to find from some Catholic churches! My only warning is that if you are looking for a quick in-and-out service that is under an hour, this probably isn't the best bet for you. It's safer to budget about 1.5 hours for mass here, but believe me when I say that hearing Father John's homily (and he is first in line to make fun of himself for talking too much!) is well worth it!!! The choir is also always full of great talent and a shifting medley of instruments as well. As a bonus, they usually have some coffee and pastries downstairs afterwards, so nothing to fret about if you miss your brunch plans!

The outside doesn't look like much, but when you walk inside, this Catholic Church is absolutely…read morestunning! The priest was on point with his homily and the parishioners were friendly. I would highly recommend going here if you need a place to worship.

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St Cecilia Parish
St Cecilia Parish - Renee & Frances at Mass

Renee & Frances at Mass

St Cecilia Parish - My zfaghters & Frances ( Mother)

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My zfaghters & Frances ( Mother)

First Church In Boston - 2013 Minns Lecture featuring the Rev. Naomi King and Peter Bowden.

First Church In Boston

5.0(3 reviews)
0.3 miBack Bay

With several major churches in the Copley Square area it is easy to overlook what in many ways is…read morethe best, a smaller gem located three blocks north of the green line. First Church Boston is one of three Unitarian Universalist churches in Boston and a surprisingly lively place, 383 years old but more contemporary than ever. Every church talks about combining the new with the traditional, but First Church Boston does it. The building is original on the outside along Berkley St. but the inside is Paul Rudolph contemporary. The music can be Bach one week and Bernstein the next. Services address current issues of the day as well as lifelong spiritual concerns. There is a ton going on during the week besides the Sunday morning service, all of it accessible on line. Every UU church is different as there is no central authority in Unitarianism, a situation some call religious democracy. There is no single revealed truth to ascribe to, rather members are encouraged to discover their own spirituality in a course called Building Your Own Theology. Other churches share a set of beliefs: UUs share a set of values. Most Unitarians are made not born, as 90% of UU members transfer to this faith as adults, so UUs have a history of welcoming newcomers from all backgrounds. Members (and staff) of First Church include former Catholics, Episcopalians, Baptists, Jews, Muslims, atheists and agnostics, to name a few. And you want cool? First Church Boston counts as members President John Quincy Adams, John Winthrop, Anne Bradstreet, Anne Hutchinson, Paul Revere. And Ralph Waldo Emerson is a former minister. So grab a blue cup at coffee hour and make new friends as members introduce themselves to you.

When searching for a church that was conveniently located in Back Bay, there are many to chose…read morefrom. First Church in Boston has always been an open, friendly community with excellent ministry and the best music program in the Back Bay. This community is a great place to start or continue your spiritual journey.

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First Church In Boston - First Church Boston has new staff for our infant care and program for children ages 4-8.

First Church Boston has new staff for our infant care and program for children ages 4-8.

First Church In Boston - The Rev. Stephen Kendrick, Senior Minister, preaching at First Church Boston.

The Rev. Stephen Kendrick, Senior Minister, preaching at First Church Boston.

First Church In Boston - First Church Boston has an amazing facility for its children's program.  This photo is of the infant and toddler room.

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First Church Boston has an amazing facility for its children's program. This photo is of the infant and toddler room.

Park Street Church

Park Street Church

4.0(31 reviews)
0.9 miDowntown

Historical must stop location! The architecture is cool, but nothing spectacular. What makes this…read moreplace special is its impact in the American Revolution as it was large enough for meetings that planned and informed those involved with the Revolution. Take in the history, take in the craftsmanship and take in some of the Spirit!

I've attended this church for many years and I'm sad to say that the leadership has gone very much…read moredownhill. They once were a place that embraced women in ministry, but the present leadership has marginalized the voice of women leaders. When the Senior Minister was called out on it, he responded during one of his sermons, "The rules for diversity are different in a corporation from that in a church. I'm not going to go out of my way to create candidate pools that include women and I'm not going to hire someone just because they're a woman." Worse than that, our church did have a democratic structure that embraced the voice of the congregation. Now, the present leadership has often delayed or even ignored the congregation's requests for meetings to review decisions of the church, the Elder Board ignores congregant emails, and the Senior Minister has harnessed control of every committee so there are no "checks and balances" to his power. In a church born only 30 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it's sad to see the attack on the democratic structure of the church. Not a good time to make this your church home, but if you want to stop by to listen to a pretty choir and see the inside of a historical building then pay it a visit.

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Park Street Church - Stop 3 on the Freedom Trail

Stop 3 on the Freedom Trail

Park Street Church - Lots of freedom trail tours going by daily.

Lots of freedom trail tours going by daily.

Park Street Church - Exterior entrance

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Exterior entrance

Old South Church - churches - Updated May 2026

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