History

First Church is the oldest church in Boston.  The present church changed its name by vote of the congregation in July 2005 from First and Second Church to the Society of the First Church in Boston, thus bringing 375 years of history full circle.

Over the three hundred and seventy five years since the founding of First Church, six different congregations have joined it, and each has brought to First Church its own rich history.

When John Winthrop and his party stepped off the Arabella in what is now Charlestown their first action in the new world was to draw up and sign a Covenant for a Church, on July 30, 1630.  The covenant they adopted, and which ninety men and women signed over the next two days, was a document of such theological simplicity that after three centuries and the shift from Calvinism to Unitarianism it is still the basis of membership in First Church in Boston.  Our Church Historian. Leo Collins, may be contacted via email at

First Church

Second Church

First and Second Church in Boston

First Church in Boston

Famous Members of One of the Seven Societies

The Covenant Of the First Church in Boston, 1630

Calligraphy at First Church

Historical Sites Near and Relating to First Church

Historical Summary