Old South Church

Old South Church is one of the famous building in the Copley Square area of Boston. The current structure dates from 1875; however, the congregation was formed in 1669. I made a visit to the church on the Saturday following Easter. It was one of the first nice days of spring after a tremendously difficult winter. The church was still decorated with Easter flowers and the sunlight shone brightly through the beautiful stained-glass windows.

The church is an example of the true meaning of sanctuary: some quiet time for myself; a respite for an unfortunate woman taking a nap in a pew. The quietness of such a large space is inspiring. While inside it is difficult to imagine that just a few feet away crowds of people hurrying and bustling through their busy lives on a Saturday afternoon. It was hard to remain absolutely silent, however, as the wooden floor creaked and groaned under the stress on my shoes as I walk around the church.

Among the parishioners of the church was Samuel Adams (1722-1803), a familiar name in Boston. The memorial to him reads: “To give his history at full length would be to give a history of the American Revolution.” The church was also near the finish line of the Boston Marathon and the church witnessed the tragic bombing that unfolded just two years before.