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Old North Church in Boston

The Old North Church is well-known for its role in Paul Revere's famous ride, immortalized in poetry and learned in every American history class. This historic site is on the Freedom Trail. It's still an active house of worship, as well as a popular stop for visitors to the city.

History

The Old North Church, officially known as the Christ Church in the City of Boston, is famous as the location of the lanterns that alerted Paul Revere to the coming of the British by sea back on April 18, 1775. Virtually every child in American learns the story of how the signal of British invasion was “one if by land, two if by sea” (actually the Charles River). Robert Newman, the church sexton, is the person who actually climbed the church steeple and used a pair of lanterns to signal Revere, setting him off on his immortal midnight ride. That simple action set the American Revolution in motion, although conflict had been brewing for a long time.

Ironically, the Old North Church was Anglican, and the vast majority of its congregation was loyal to the British. The King himself even gifted the church silver for use at its services. Revere himself did not attend the church, as he was a Congregationalist, but he was a paid bell-ringer there as a boy. Legend says that he may have remembered the excellent view and sight lines from the steeple, influencing him to choose it as the signal spot. His son, Joseph, eventually became a member of the church.

The Old North Church was built in 1723 and is now Boston's oldest standing church building, although it was actually the second Anglican house of worship built in the area. The Anglican religion is the official Church of England, which, ironically, is the group that persecuted the Puritans and caused them to flee to America. The Old North Church was popular with members of the royal government, wealthy merchants, and others with close ties to British royalty and loyalty to the Crown.

The Old North Church Today

The Old North Church is a stop on the Freedom Trail of historical sites and a popular tourist spot today, and it's also still an active house of worship. People are drawn to it because it's a familiar part of Boston’s history, but it's also a fascinating spot because of its architecture and artifacts. For example, you can still see the original chandeliers, which were rushed across the ocean to be hung in time for the church's Christmas services. These decorative fixtures, along with the church organ, were frowned upon by the colony's Puritans as ostentatious displays.

Visitors to the church are always welcome to attend services and choose whichever pews they like, although in colonial times the members paid for their pews. The most desirable spots cost the most money, and anyone who rented a pew was able to use it exclusively, and even decorate it in whatever fashion they chose.

The church's eight bells are the oldest in North America, dating back to 1744, and they have undergone multiple renovations over the years to keep them in usable condition. You may get to hear them when you visit, as they ring regularly on Saturdays and are also rung on other days for special occasions.

Visiting the Church

The church is open most days for visitors, and it also has services on Sunday mornings and Thursday evenings, which the public is welcome to attend. You can drop in at your convenience, either as part of a Freedom Trail walk or just as a drop-in. Although there is no formal admission charge, donations are always welcomed. The visit starts off with a brief presentation on the church's history and artifacts. You can also choose a more in-depth behind the scenes tour, which takes you into the bell tower and down into the burial crypt, which houses more than 1,000 bodies. These special tours are offered seasonally on certain days, with specific's on the church's website.

The Old North Gift Shop is adjacent to the church, in what used to be the St. Francis Chapel. You can find a variety of souvenirs related to the Old North Church and historic Boston in the shop, and purchases benefit the Old North Foundation, helping to preserve the church and support programs for students, visitors, and others.

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Old North Church in Boston