Visit Old South Church to see a place that has been organizing and welcoming Bostonian worshippers for more than 350 years. Come to admire the building and stay to learn about the congregation's long history.
The Old South Church congregation was founded in 1669. Its iconic building is one of the city’s most renowned. The church was built in 1875 with a Northern Italian Gothic architecture style. Inspired by the principles of the British philosopher John Ruskin, the majestic building, rising above the hubbub of Copley Square, evokes the Doge’s Palace and the loggias of Venice.
Spot the campanile from a distance, rising 246 feet (75 meters) into the air. Its heavy bell is audible from surrounding neighborhoods. Arrive on the square and walk slowly around the corner, noticing features that reveal the Italian heritage of the work. Squint up at the church’s detailed stonework, with its bands of decoration around large stained-glass windows and ringing the tower.
Enter the building, which welcomes worshippers several times a week. Sit in the pews and think about the men and women who were once part of the congregation, including Benjamin Franklin, Phillis Wheatley, the first African American woman to publish poetry, and Mary Chilton, the first woman who stepped onto Plymouth Rock.
Admire the church’s luxurious decoration, from Italian cherry wood to limestone and stained glass designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Remember that Samuel Adams started the cry for the Boston Tea Party from the congregation’s former meeting house.
Copley Square is one of Boston’s main plazas, making the church easy to access. Several train lines run to the subway stop on the square. Reach Old South Church from Boston Common in 7 minutes by car or subway or 17 minutes on foot. South Station is 10 minutes away by car or public transportation and 25 minutes away on foot. Parking is extremely limited in the vicinity, but there are some metered street parking spots and a few garages.
Old South Church is open to visitors from Sunday to Friday between morning and late afternoon, with the exception of times when services are underway. There is no entrance fee.
