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Commonwealth Museum   Secretary of the Commonwealth William Francis Galvin
Commonwealth Museum Secretary of the Commonwealth William Francis Galvin

Celebrating Roxbury: The First Church in Roxbury


The First Church was founded by English Puritans in 1632 and several meetinghouses have occupied the site. The 200th anniversary of the present church building was celebrated in 2004.


A photograph of a white colored, classic looking church on a fall day.
  - Images by Anthony W. Lanier, Photographer
Representative Byron Rushing, former director of the Afro-American History Museum, captured by photographer Anthony W. Lanier during the 200th-anniversary commemoration.

1849 petition . . .

Yesterday and Today
 Roxbury’s First Church is the site of the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry. It offers education enrichment programs for young students, job training, shelter for battered women and children, and support for people who have been imprisoned.

Historic Roxbury
The most famous early minister in Roxbury was Reverend John Eliot, often called the “Apostle to the Indians.” In April, 1775 William Dawes departed from the church to join with Paul Revere on his “Midnight Ride” before the battles at Lexington and Concord. The present building dates to 1804 and reflects the Federal style, popular after the Revolution.


A photograph of William Loyd Garrison

William Lloyd Garrison . . .

Photograph of Lewis Hayden

Lewis Hayden . . .

Representative Byron Rushing, former director of the Afro-American History Museum, captured by photographer Anthony W. Lanier during the 200th-anniversary commemoration.

Representative Byron Rushing  . . .

Garrison's Funeral
In 1879 the First Church was the site of the funeral of William Lloyd Garrison who devoted his life to the abolition of slavery. Pallbearers included Lewis Hayden, one of Boston’s preeminent nineteenth century black activists.