Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston
Neoclassical facade of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston.
Photo
Wally Gobetz.
Detail of Neoclassical portico. Photo
Adam Lenhardt.
Cathedral interior. Photo
Adam Lenhardt.
Location map and aerial view of Cathedral Church of St. Paul. For a larger interactive view, see our Boston Map.
Founded in 1818, the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston is a historic Epicopalian cathedral with a thriving congregation.
History
St. Paul's was founded in 1818. At that time, there were two other Episcopal parishes in Boston - Old North Church and Trinity Church - both of which were founded as Anglican churches before the Revolution. St. Paul's was the first parish church with entirely American origins in the city, as well as the first Neoclassical building in New England.
In 1912, St. Paul's was consecrated the cathedral church of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts.
The Cathedral Church of St. Paul has witnessed a number of historic events over the centuries. In 1846, Alexander Crummel was ordained deacon; he was the first African-American to be ordained in Massachusetts and only the third in the entire country. It would be 121 years before another African-American was ordained in the state.
In December 1985, the first public AIDS healing service in Boston was held at St. Paul's. In September 1988, the first woman bishop in the Anglican Communion, Barbara C. Harris, was elected in St. Paul's. Muslims have used the building for Friday prayers since before 9/11.
What to See
Located on Boston Common, St. Paul's Cathedral has a Neoclassical facade atop monumental steps. The open interior is topped with a coffered barrel vault. The dean describes the architecture this way: "[it] looks like a bank on the outside and a United Nations meeting on the inside."
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | Cathedral Church of St. Paul |
| Dedicated to: | St. Paul |
| Location: | Boston, Massachusetts, USA |
| Category: | Cathedrals |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Episcopalian |
| Status: | active |
| Date: | 1818 (cathedral since 1912) |
| Architecture: | Neoclassical |
| Features: | Oldest |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 42.355747° N, 71.062333° W (view on Google Maps) |
| Address: | 138 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02111 |
| Phone: | 617-482-4826 |
| Website: | www.stpaulboston.org |
| E-mail: | cathedral@diomass.org |
| Hours: | Mon-Fri 9am-5pm |
Travel Resources
- Boston Map - our detailed interactive map of Boston, plus hand-picked links to more
- Boston Guided Tours - book sightseeing tours and activities in Boston
- Boston Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, then book at the guaranteed lowest rate
- Boston Hostels - reserve budget lodgings with no booking fees
- Boston Car Rentals - get the lowest rate by comparing multiple car companies at a glance
- Boston Flight Search - compare multiple travel sites to find the lowest airfare to Boston
- Boston Restaurant Reviews - the best places to eat in town
- Boston Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Boston tourism
Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- Historical marker outside the church.
- St. Paul's Church (Episcopal) (Boston) - National Historic Landmarks Program
- The Cathedral Church of St. Paul - official website
Article last updated: 07/18/2009.
