Boston, Mass. New North Church sermon notes, 1722.

Collection

Identifier: RG0810

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains a single manuscript pamphlet that records information about various sermons delivered at the New North Church between August and November of 1722. Peter Thacher, John Webb, Mr. Prince, and Mr. Cooper are each identified as authors of some of the sermons present in the document.

Dates

1722

Creator

New North Church (Boston, Mass.) (Organization)

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Access to this collection is unrestricted and open to the public.

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Historical Note

The New North Church in Boston was established in 1712 in the North End of Boston by members of the Old North Church. The first church building for the New North Church was completed in 1714. John Webb was ordained as the first pastor of the New North Church on October 20, 1714. In 1720, John Webb desired to settle Peter Thacher as the next minister of the New North Church. Nearly half of the congregation disagreed with the choice which ultimately resulted in many withdrawing to form the New Brick Church in 1722. During Thacher’s ministry the church building was expanded in 1730.

Andrew Eliot was ordained as the third pastor of the New North Church on April 14, 1743. During the English occupation of Boston, Eliot labored to keep the New North Church open for worship, though he was separated from his family during that time. His pastorate ended with his death om September 13, 1778. Eliot’s son, John Eliot was chosen to be the next pastor and was ordained on November 3, 1779. During John Eliot’s pastorate a new church building was built between 1802 and 1804. This new building was designed by Charles Bulfinch, a noted architect in both Boston and Washington, D.C. The building, which still stands today, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. John Eliot’s pastorate also ended with his death on February 14, 1813.

Francis Parkman was ordained as pastor of the New North Church on December 8, 1813. The ordination of Francis Parkman also marked the transition of the New North Church from a Congregationalist Church to a Unitarian Church. Parkman served as pastor of the church until he resigned on January 28, 1849. Joshua Young succeeded Parkman and was ordained on February 1, 1849. He resigned in July, 1852. Arthur B. Fuller succeeded Young and began his ministry on June 1, 1853.

In 1862 the New North Church, owing largely to the influx of Irish Catholics into the North End, sold their church building to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Boston. The building was renamed St. Stephen’s Church. Today, St. Stephen’s Church is home to the Missionary Society of St. James the Apostle and in 1992 the church became a part of St. Leonard of Port Maurice Parish. St. Stephen’s Church continues to hold weekly worship services.

Somewhere around 1867, the New North Church merged with the Bulfinch Street Church, another Unitarian Church in Boston. This newly merged church apparently ceased to operate sometime between 1884 and 1886.

Extent

1 Folder

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The New North Church in Boston was established in 1712 in the North End of Boston and the first church building was completed in 1714. John Webb was ordained as the first pastor in 1714. A disagreement over ordaining Peter Thacher as the second minister in 1720 resulted in the formation of the New Brick Church in 1722. The second church building was designed by Charles Bulfinch and completed in 1804. In 1862 the New North Church sold their church building to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Boston. The church building was renamed St. Stephen’s Church and remains a Catholic church today. Around 1867 the New North Church merged with the Bulfinch Street Church and between 1884 and 1886 this merged church ceased to operate. This collection contains a single manuscript pamphlet that records information about various sermons delivered at the New North Church between August and November of 1722.

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Acquisition Information

No acquisition information is available for this collection.

Accruals

Additional accruals are expected for this collection in the form of full-text transcription. There is no anticipated date for this accrual.

Digital Copies

Records within this collection were digitized as part of the New England's Hidden Histories project. Digital reproductions may be accessed online through our digital archive.

Bibliography

Fuller, Arthur B. An Historical Discource delivered in the New North Church, October 1, 1854. Boston: Crosby, Nichols, and Company, 1854. 17.11.1 B65.5 BULPC