First Church in Boston at Berkeley Street and Marlborough Street

Abdalian, Leon H., 1884-1967 · July 4, 1920

First Church in Boston is, as an organization, directly descended from the congregation which worshipped in the crude building of mud walls and thatched roof built in 1632. The second building of the society was erected in 1639 across Washington Street, from State Street. This was consumed by the fire of 1711. The successor, known as the "Old Brick," lasted until 1808, when a new building was erected in Chauncey Place. The present beautiful building at the corner of Berkeley and Marlborough Streets, dates fro 1868. Its interior is almost completely surrounded with memorial tablets, including those to John Winthrop, John Endicott, Sir Henry Vane Simon Bradstreet, Anne Bradstreet, Edward Everett and Ralph Waldo Emerson. On the south side is an life-size recumbent figure erected by the John Cotton as a memorial to their ancestor. It is of Italian statuary marble with pedestal and background of limestone. The church also contains several beautiful memorial windows. The statue of John Winthrop, which stood for many years in Scollay Square, was placed in the yard of the First Church in 1905. Rev. William Emerson, father of Ralph Waldo Emerson, was pastor of this church, 1799-1811.