King’s Chapel – A Must-See on Your Next Trip to Boston

Ben Edwards — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:50:18 +0000

In downtown Boston, at the corner of School and Tremont streets, stands a historic treasure called King’s Chapel. Founded in 1686, it was the first Anglican Church in New England and in 1785 it became the first Unitarian Church in America. Today the church has a Unitarian theology and an Anglican form of liturgy. It was originally housed in a wooden building dedicated on June 30, 1689. A growing congregation found this building in disrepair by the mid 18th century, so they acquired additional land, and hired architect Peter Harrison of Newport, Rhode Island to design a new and larger structure. The first block of Quincy granite for the new church was laid in 1749 and the building opened in 1754. A bell cast in England was hung in the church tower in 1772 and lasted for 42 years until it cracked in 1814 while being rung for evening services. It was melted down, re-cast and re-hung by Paul Revere & Son in 1816. The Revere bell at 2,437 pounds is the largest ever cast at the Revere foundry and Paul Revere himself called it “the sweetest bell we ever made”. The bell is still rung today by hand for all church services. King’s Chapel was a Loyalist or Tory church at the time of the American Revolution. It closed for a few months in 1776 after the British soldiers and Bostonians loyal to the king evacuated the town but did reopen that year for the funeral of patriot leader General Joseph Warren who was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Press coverage of that event can be seen in this original article from the April 25, 1776 issue of The Pennsylvania Evening Post.

The interior of King’s Chapel is elegant and it is certainly one of the most beautiful churches in New England. The double Corinthian columns are made of wood and elements of them were hand-carved by Boston craftsmen in the 1750s. The wineglass pulpit was built in 1717 and used in the earlier wooden church. It is the oldest pulpit in the United States in continuous use on the same site. The box pews are original – families would pay a yearly rental fee for them and could decorate the pews to their liking. Their high walls kept out the drafts and helped retain the heat from the small foot-stoves that families would bring to church with them. Although the fabric in today’s pews has been replaced over the years, the cushions you can sit on when you visit still contain the original horsehair stuffing! The most famous pew in the church is the Governor’s Pew – once reserved for the Royal Governor and his family. President George Washington sat here on October 27, 1789 while attending an oratorio – a musical composition with orchestra, choir and soloists. At the time, King’s Chapel was generally called the Stone Chapel and press coverage of that event can be seen in this original article from the October 28, 1789 issue of The Massachusetts Centinel. President Washington’s visit to Boston lasted from October 24-29. Money raised from the oratorio (which was likely performed multiple times) was used to fund the addition of a colonnade or portico to the Chapel. This was added in 1790. A steeple was also in the architect’s original plans for the church but it was never built due to lack of funds.

Music at King’s Chapel

Visitors to King’s Chapel today can follow in the footsteps of President Washington by attending one of the many concerts and recitals held throughout the year. The King’s Chapel musical tradition dates back to 1713 when the church became the first in New England to acquire an organ! Here is a current list of recitals – they take place on Tuesdays, last 30-40 minutes and begin at 12:15 pm. Here is a current list of concerts. You can also learn more about music at King’s Chapel and view photos of the choir and organ. The current organ built in 1964 is the sixth in the church’s long history. The carved panels, ornamentation over the pipes, and the gold crown and miters on the present organ once decorated an earlier organ built in London for King’s Chapel in 1756.

Tours/Programs at King’s Chapel

Visitors can elect to go on a self guided tour or participate in one of the special tours/programs that are available. Two of these, the popular Tory Stories and Puritans, Patriots, and Pirates!, are offered during Harborfest. King’s Chapel’s latest journey into the past is the unique Bells and Bones Tour where knowledgeable guides take you to visit the crypt beneath the church and climb with you into the church tower where you have the very rare opportunity to view and photograph the largest bell ever made by Paul Revere! The cost for this tour is $7 per person (or $5 per person for the crypt only). The Bells and Bones tour is offered most weekdays (check with staff); Saturdays, on the hour, from 10 am – 4 pm; and Sundays, on the hour, from 1:30 pm to 4 pm. Learn what King’s Chapel has to offer educators and how you can arrange school group tours and group visits.

Restoring King’s Chapel

In conjunction with the National Historic Landmarks Commission, King’s Chapel is in the midst of a long and involved restoration project. To learn what they’ve already accomplished as well as the restoration work still needed to maintain a building over 250 years old – and how your contribution can help – view The Restoration Project.

Worship Services

Worship Services at King’s Chapel are held on Wednesdays at 12:15 pm and Sundays at 11 am.

Hours for King’s Chapel

Beginning May 3 King’s Chapel will be open from 10 am-5 pm every day with the following exceptions – the church is closed for recitals on Tuesday from noon to 1:30 pm; closed for church services on Wednesday from noon to 1:30 pm; and closed for church services on Sunday until 1:30 pm.

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King’s Chapel – A Must-See on Your Next Trip to Boston