Old North Church in Boston

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See the Churches web page for an interactive location map.

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LOCATION

The Old North Church, part of Boston National Historical Park, is located at 193 Salem Street.

MANAGEMENT AND WEBSITE

The Old North Church is still an active Episcopal Church. See the Old North Church website for more information.

VISITING HOURS

The Old North Church is typically open to visitors from early March through the end of December. See the Admissions and Pricing web page for the Old North Church to get the latest operating schedule, tour fees, and to purchase tickets in advance.

Pulpit of the Old North Church in Boston

GENERAL INFORMATION

Visitors are welcome to explore the nave of the Old North Church during normal visiting hours. The tour is self-guided, though there are staff members on hand to answer questions and perhaps give an impromptu lecture. There is also an option to rent an audio guide, which includes general admission to the church. No guided tours are given to individuals or organized groups of less than twelve people. If you have an organized group, you can schedule a tour by emailing the Visitor Experience Manager at jhobert@oldnorth.com or by calling (781) 352-2069.

Tours of the crypt, bell tower, and balcony are also given (fee involved). I highly recommend the Crypt Tour if you have the time. You can purchase a ticket online in advance or at the church ticket office on the day of your visit.

Pipe organ at the Old North Church in Boston

OLD NORTH CHURCH HISTORY

The Old North Church was built in 1723 and was originally called Christ Church. It is the oldest church building in Boston that is still standing. Its claim to fame is that this is where the lanterns were shown on the night of April 18, 1775, to warn fellow Patriots of when and how the British were going to march to Concord to confiscate a cache of Patriot weapons, a plan spies had learned about earlier.

Alter of the Old North Church in Boston

Paul Revere and William Dawes were to ride out to a house in Lexington to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that the British were coming to arrest them, then on to Concord to warn the militia to move the weapons. Just in case they were caught, the lanterns would let other Patriots know the British route. One lantern meant they were marching by land via Boston Neck, and two meant they were crossing the Charles River to Cambridge, a four-hour shortcut, and marching from there. When Revere saw which way the British were heading—by water—he instructed one of his associates (some say two) to show two lanterns from the bell tower. The lanterns were lit and only shown for one minute.

Paul Revere statue in the courtyard outside the Old North Church in Boston

Nobody knows for sure who the men were that lit the lanterns. It is speculated that they were the church sexton, Robert Newman, and church member John Pulling Jr. The congregation of Christ Church was almost entirely made of Loyalists (those loyal to England), so the fact that Newman and Pulling were Patriot sympathizers is quite surprising. Newman lived just a block from the church and was the only man with keys.

Information on display at Boston’s Old North Church about the identity of the lantern hangers

The interior of the church has a few interesting features to be aware of. First off, the pews are still box pews. Back in the day, families actually paid for a pew at an auction—the closer to the alter, the more expensive—and then had to pay a yearly fee to keep them. The design kept out cold drafts during the winter, plus you could bring coal-fired foot warmers into your pew. Paying a fee for the pews was in practice from the time the church opened all the way up until 1912. The doors still have the original owner names on them, and some pews have posted information that tell about the owners. Those who could not afford a box pew had to sit in the upstairs balcony.

Box pews inside Boston’s Old North Church

Box pew door at Boston’s Old North Church still has the name plate of the former owner

There is also a window with an interesting story. It had been bricked over long ago and was only rediscovered in 1989. It is called the Newman Window, for as legend has it, after lighting the lanterns on April 18th, Robert Newman escaped from the British by jumping out of this window. Seeing that nobody even knows if Newman was the man who lit the lanterns in the first place, this is most likely a tale tall. The lantern that now hangs from the window was a gift from President Gerald Ford to kick off the U. S. Bicentennial celebration in 1975.

The Newman Window at Boston’s Old North Church

SCHEDULING YOUR TIME

Plan to spend one hour for your self-guided tour of the Old North Church and one of the guided tours.

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