Old West Church, Boston, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
The Old West Church at 131 Cambridge Street, is a historic church located in the West End of Boston, built in 1806 to designs by architect Asher Benjamin
. It was here that the phrase "no taxation without representation
" was first coined .
The first church on this site was built in 1737 as a wood-frame building, and was occupied as a barracks by British troops during their occupation of the city prior to the American Revolution
. The British razed this church in 1775 when they suspected that American Colonials were signaling to Cambridge
from its steeple.
Today's Old West Church is thus the second church on the site. As in the architect's earlier Charles Street Meeting House
(1804), its -story brick entry tower is crowned with a cupola
; the whole tower projects outward somewhat from the church hall behind. Four shallow brick pilaster
s, each two stories high and trimmed with white wood, separate the three entry doors. Each door is echoed with window above it. The tower's third story is outfitted with pairs of Doric
pilasters. On the final half-story beneath the cupola are clocks on each face of the tower, each adorned with a light swag
. On the back wall, the original central pulpit window has been filled in with brickwork.
Old West's preaching played a major role in American history. Jonathan Mayhew
, the church's second Congregational pastor, coined the phrase, "no taxation without representation
" in a sermon in Old West. His preaching was theologically radical as well, and is held by some Unitarians to have predated William Ellery Channing
in his exposition of anti-trinitarian views. By the early 19th century, the resultant Unitarianism
had converted 9 of Boston’s original 13 orthodox Congregational
churches.
The church was originally and for many years Congregational
, briefly a branch of the Boston Public Library
(1894–1896), and has been owned by the Methodist Church since 1964.
Asher Benjamin
Asher Benjamin was an American architect and author whose work transitioned between Federal style architecture and the later Greek Revival. His seven handbooks on design deeply influenced the look of cities and towns throughout New England until the Civil War...
. It was here that the phrase "no taxation without representation
No taxation without representation
"No taxation without representation" is a slogan originating during the 1750s and 1760s that summarized a primary grievance of the British colonists in the Thirteen Colonies, which was one of the major causes of the American Revolution...
" was first coined .
The first church on this site was built in 1737 as a wood-frame building, and was occupied as a barracks by British troops during their occupation of the city prior to the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. The British razed this church in 1775 when they suspected that American Colonials were signaling to Cambridge
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
from its steeple.
Today's Old West Church is thus the second church on the site. As in the architect's earlier Charles Street Meeting House
Charles Street Meeting House
The Charles Street Meeting House, is an early-nineteenth-century historic church in Beacon Hill at 70 Charles Street, Boston, Massachusetts. The church has been used over its history by several Christian denominations and is a good example of reuse and adaptive reuse, having recently been renovated...
(1804), its -story brick entry tower is crowned with a cupola
Cupola
In architecture, a cupola is a small, most-often dome-like, structure on top of a building. Often used to provide a lookout or to admit light and air, it usually crowns a larger roof or dome....
; the whole tower projects outward somewhat from the church hall behind. Four shallow brick pilaster
Pilaster
A pilaster is a slightly-projecting column built into or applied to the face of a wall. Most commonly flattened or rectangular in form, pilasters can also take a half-round form or the shape of any type of column, including tortile....
s, each two stories high and trimmed with white wood, separate the three entry doors. Each door is echoed with window above it. The tower's third story is outfitted with pairs of Doric
Doric order
The Doric order was one of the three orders or organizational systems of ancient Greek or classical architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian.-History:...
pilasters. On the final half-story beneath the cupola are clocks on each face of the tower, each adorned with a light swag
Window valance
A window valance is a form of window treatment that covers the uppermost part of the window and can be hung alone or paired with window blinds, or curtains. Valances are a popular decorative choice in concealing drapery hardware. Window valances were popular in Victorian interior design...
. On the back wall, the original central pulpit window has been filled in with brickwork.
Old West's preaching played a major role in American history. Jonathan Mayhew
Jonathan Mayhew
Jonathan Mayhew was a noted American minister at Old West Church, Boston, Massachusetts. He is credited with coining the phrase "no taxation without representation." -Early life:...
, the church's second Congregational pastor, coined the phrase, "no taxation without representation
No taxation without representation
"No taxation without representation" is a slogan originating during the 1750s and 1760s that summarized a primary grievance of the British colonists in the Thirteen Colonies, which was one of the major causes of the American Revolution...
" in a sermon in Old West. His preaching was theologically radical as well, and is held by some Unitarians to have predated William Ellery Channing
William Ellery Channing
Dr. William Ellery Channing was the foremost Unitarian preacher in the United States in the early nineteenth century and, along with Andrews Norton, one of Unitarianism's leading theologians. He was known for his articulate and impassioned sermons and public speeches, and as a prominent thinker...
in his exposition of anti-trinitarian views. By the early 19th century, the resultant Unitarianism
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
had converted 9 of Boston’s original 13 orthodox Congregational
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
churches.
The church was originally and for many years Congregational
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
, briefly a branch of the Boston Public Library
Boston Public Library
The Boston Public Library is a municipal public library system in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was the first publicly supported municipal library in the United States, the first large library open to the public in the United States, and the first public library to allow people to...
(1894–1896), and has been owned by the Methodist Church since 1964.
Further reading
- Nancy S. Voye. Asher Benjamin's West Church: A Model for Change. Old-Time New England v.67, no.245, Summer-Fall 1976.
External links
- http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.ma0487
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/boston_public_library/5415294659/
- http://oldwestchurch.org/