Old South Church is a landmark Gothic Revival church anchoring the northeast corner of Copley Square in Boston’s Back Bay. Completed in 1873, the building was designed by architects Charles Amos Cummings and Willard T. Sears, with a distinctive Italian Gothic-inspired facade, polychrome stonework, and a soaring campanile. The congregation traces its roots to 1669 and is a continuing United Church of Christ congregation, sometimes called the “new” Old South to distinguish it from the Old South Meeting House downtown.
Today the church is both an active house of worship and an architectural highlight of Copley Square, sitting alongside the Boston Public Library and Trinity Church. Its richly detailed interior, stained glass, and historic organ draw visitors and music lovers; the venue hosts concerts and community events. The church stands a few steps from the Boston Marathon finish line on Boylston Street, placing it at the heart of the neighborhood’s civic life.
Good to know
- Active United Church of Christ congregation as well as a historic landmark
- Gothic Revival building completed in 1873 on Copley Square
- Stands near the Boston Public Library and the Marathon finish line
- Hosts concerts and events; check the official site before visiting
Getting there
- Address: 645 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116
- Neighborhood: Back Bay (Copley Square)
- Nearest T: Copley (Green Line); Back Bay (Orange Line) is also a short walk