Park Street Church
Park Street Church
4
About
A stop on the Freedom Trail, this 1809 church is noted for its 200-foot steeple.
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Address
Neighbourhood: Dorchester / Roxbury / Mattapan
How to get there
- Park St • 1 min walk
- Downtown Crossing • 3 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
139 reviews
Excellent
46
Very good
63
Average
28
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Climber01735587452
2 contributions
Mar 2024 • Solo
I've attended this church for many years and I'm sad to say that the leadership has gone very much downhill. They once were a place that embraced women in ministry but the present leadership has marginalized the voice of women leaders. When the Senior Minister was called out on it he responded, during one of his sermons, "The rules for diversity are different from that in a church. I'm not going to go out of my way to create candidate pools that include women and I'm not going to hire someone just because they're a woman." Worse than that, our church did have a democratic structure that embraced the voice of the congregation. Now, the present leadership has often delayed or even ignored the congregation's requests for meetings to review decisions of the church, the Elder Board ignores congregant emails, and the Senior Minister has harnessed control of every committee so there are no "checks and balances" to his power. In a church born only 30 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it's sad to see the attack on the democratic structure of the church.
Not a good time to make this your church home, but if you want to stop by to listen to a pretty choir and see the inside of a historical building then pay it a visit.
Not a good time to make this your church home, but if you want to stop by to listen to a pretty choir and see the inside of a historical building then pay it a visit.
Written 6 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Catherine Keeling
Statham, GA29 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
We attended Sunday morning church service on our long weekend trip to Boston. We enjoyed visiting and worshipping here, the service was beautiful and the congregation was extremely warm and welcoming. It was special that it was in such a historical location, as well.
Written 20 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travellover6128
San Francisco, CA2,965 contributions
Aug 2011 • Couples
This is the third official stop on the Freedom Trail and is a very impressive church to look at from the outside. Apparently it's 217 ft spire was one of the first landmarks travellers used to see when coming into Boston
Entrance is free (donations welcome though) and when we arrived there were 2 very knowledgable people sitting on front desk, who were able to answer all our questions. The inside is very odd! The whole of the downstairs is dedicated to what used to be the Sunday School, but now a small museum. You then have to go upstairs into the main body of the church. It is very pretty inside and surprisingly large.
The church plays quite an important part in the history of Boston and the church has very kindly placed history cards around the church for visitors to read.
You don't need to spend long in here but it's worth stopping and viewing the inside.
Entrance is free (donations welcome though) and when we arrived there were 2 very knowledgable people sitting on front desk, who were able to answer all our questions. The inside is very odd! The whole of the downstairs is dedicated to what used to be the Sunday School, but now a small museum. You then have to go upstairs into the main body of the church. It is very pretty inside and surprisingly large.
The church plays quite an important part in the history of Boston and the church has very kindly placed history cards around the church for visitors to read.
You don't need to spend long in here but it's worth stopping and viewing the inside.
Written 2 September 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CRussellSr
Lutherville, MD8 contributions
Mar 2014 • Friends
Park Street Church has been at the forefront of both evangelicalism and US history for centuries. For history buffs, this church is worth a few minutes on your Freedom Trail hike. For evangelical Christians, it is also worth a visit on Sunday morning. Be prepared for a solid sermon. Park Street Church history resides at the intersection of reformed theology and self governance.
Written 28 March 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
krazykoyot
Columbia, SC91 contributions
Aug 2019 • Family
My daughter got married in this historic church. Location across from Boston Common, on historic trail, in the heart of old Boston. Staff were incredibly helpful, sanctuary is simply beautiful, and everything was classically elegant. Second floor location for sanctuary is iconic. A very holy experience.
Written 16 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mona L
Yorkville, IL17 contributions
Jul 2019 • Family
Before visiting I enjoyed reading about the church's beginnings during colonial times, but reading about the important part this church and its leaders continued to play, especially during the 20th century was amazing. The staff was friendly and very willing to answer questions. We respect and appreciate the work and message accomplished here for God.
Written 8 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KCKincaid
McPherson, KS31 contributions
Jul 2014 • Friends
This church along the Freedom Trail is alive and well as an historic building with a contemporary congregation. Interesting to see the church within both its historic and real-life context.
Written 11 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bradley C
Saint Charles, IL34 contributions
Mar 2014 • Couples
My wife and I have visited twice while in Boston. The first time we visited PSC because we were staying right down the street at the Omni Parker House - sort of stumbled across it. We looked up some background information on the pastor before deciding to attend, and, based on what we learned about Gordon P. Hugenberger, we hoped to enjoy an excellent teaching. We were not disappointed.
The music was wonderful, the church itself is beautiful. And we found the congregation to be very friendly. This is a church doing good - plenty of emphasis on ministries to the poor.
If I lived near Boston, I'm sure this would be my church home.
The music was wonderful, the church itself is beautiful. And we found the congregation to be very friendly. This is a church doing good - plenty of emphasis on ministries to the poor.
If I lived near Boston, I'm sure this would be my church home.
Written 24 March 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve5863
Avon, OH12,812 contributions
May 2013 • Friends
Located on the corner Park and Tremont Streets, across from the southeast corner of Boston Common and next to the fascinating Granary Burying Grounds, its beautiful 217ft (66m) steeple, at one time making it the tallest building in the country, has been a Boston landmark since it construction in 1809. One of the sites along the Freedom Trail, it is generally open for tours from the end of June through August on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 8 am to 3 pm as well as being open year round on Sundays. Since I was visiting during the spring, it was fortunate that I was able to visit on a Sunday but unfortunate that a service was underway so I was limited to quietly looking in through the doors and enjoying the architecture from outside on a beautiful day from where the abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison gave his first public anti-slavery speech on July 4, 1829.
Written 4 March 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tRAVellerOfTheW0rld
Almere, The Netherlands1,723 contributions
Jul 2013 • Family
We admired this church while walking the Freedom Trail during our three days visit to Boston. From the outside this is a beautiful church. Unfortunately it was closed when we passed, so we were not able to visit the church itself. Afterwards I spend some time reading about Park Street Church and now I know why it is so special and so much more than a stop at the Freedom Trail.....
Park Street Church was founded in 1809 by 26 citizens of Boston. They were devoted Christians who were deeply committed to establish an orthodox, evangelical, trinitarian and congregational church in the heart of Boston. In 1804 they formed a Religious Improvement Society and held weekly prayer meetings and lectures for six years, with strong oppositions from all sides. They organized the charter of the church in 1809 and the building was completed by Peter Banner at the end of 1810. Most remarkable is Park Street Church's steeple which is 66 meter high and was once the first landmark travelers saw when approaching Boston. It was even higher than the State House, which was a statement: we are here to stay!. It was even the tallest building in the United States from 1810 to 1846. Park Street Church has a rich history which is reflected in her mission for human rights and social justice. Prison reform began in this church and women's suffrage was strongly supported here.
In 1815 the world-renowned Handel and Haydn Society of Boston (America's second musical organization) was founded and in 1826 the American Temperance Society (a group opposed to drinking alcoholic beverages) started here. Slavery lectures were held from 1823 an in 1829 William Lloyd Garrison made his first major public statement against slavery in Park Street Church. In 1831 Samuel Francis Smith's 'America' (My Country 'Tis of Thee) was sang here for the first time.
In 1889 the Animal Rescue League was founded here and the NAACP, the oldest and largest civil rights organization in 1909.
At the end of the 19th century the membership declined which caused financial problems. As a result the church was reconstructed and the meetinghouse was raised to the second floor in order to rent out the first floor to commercial stores. This lasted several decades. When the membership recovered the stores were closed around 1940 and the basement was used as a Sunday school.
In 1954 the Church purchased the adjoining property at No. 1 Park Street. The church continued to expand in 1993 when it acquired No. 2 and No. 3 Park Street.
Park Street Church celebrated her bicentennial in 2009. Currently it is a big city church where revival and spiritual renewal takes place. It has a variety of Ministries and there is a strong commitment to education. Park Street Church is young, dynamic and multi cultural.
Park Street is an international congregation, with members from more than 60 countries.
Park Street Church was founded in 1809 by 26 citizens of Boston. They were devoted Christians who were deeply committed to establish an orthodox, evangelical, trinitarian and congregational church in the heart of Boston. In 1804 they formed a Religious Improvement Society and held weekly prayer meetings and lectures for six years, with strong oppositions from all sides. They organized the charter of the church in 1809 and the building was completed by Peter Banner at the end of 1810. Most remarkable is Park Street Church's steeple which is 66 meter high and was once the first landmark travelers saw when approaching Boston. It was even higher than the State House, which was a statement: we are here to stay!. It was even the tallest building in the United States from 1810 to 1846. Park Street Church has a rich history which is reflected in her mission for human rights and social justice. Prison reform began in this church and women's suffrage was strongly supported here.
In 1815 the world-renowned Handel and Haydn Society of Boston (America's second musical organization) was founded and in 1826 the American Temperance Society (a group opposed to drinking alcoholic beverages) started here. Slavery lectures were held from 1823 an in 1829 William Lloyd Garrison made his first major public statement against slavery in Park Street Church. In 1831 Samuel Francis Smith's 'America' (My Country 'Tis of Thee) was sang here for the first time.
In 1889 the Animal Rescue League was founded here and the NAACP, the oldest and largest civil rights organization in 1909.
At the end of the 19th century the membership declined which caused financial problems. As a result the church was reconstructed and the meetinghouse was raised to the second floor in order to rent out the first floor to commercial stores. This lasted several decades. When the membership recovered the stores were closed around 1940 and the basement was used as a Sunday school.
In 1954 the Church purchased the adjoining property at No. 1 Park Street. The church continued to expand in 1993 when it acquired No. 2 and No. 3 Park Street.
Park Street Church celebrated her bicentennial in 2009. Currently it is a big city church where revival and spiritual renewal takes place. It has a variety of Ministries and there is a strong commitment to education. Park Street Church is young, dynamic and multi cultural.
Park Street is an international congregation, with members from more than 60 countries.
Written 12 February 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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