Old North Church

The Old North Church is associated with the country’s colonial history and more specifically, with the American patriot, Paul Revere. This site is believed to be the first stop on his “Midnight Ride.” He had asked several Boston patriots to hang two lanterns to the structure’s steeple so as to inform Charlestown patriots of the colonists arriving by sea.

“One if by land, and two if by sea” is what the hung lanterns were supposed to have signified; it was the prearranged beacon that was used to warn the waiting colonial militia of the British forces’ movements towards Lexington and Concord. A significant event was in 1775 when Robert Newman, the church sexton, along with Captain John Pulling, climbed up to the top of the steeple, that stands tall at 8 storys, and held the lanterns aloft, with Thomas Bernard on watch outside. This act was meant to signal to the riders, that included Paul Revere as well as William Dawes, to go towards Lexington and Concord while alerting Minutemen too.

Interestingly, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a poem called the Paul Revere’s Ride that has managed to capture the Church’s essence.

While there is no admission fee for those who wish to visit the church on their own, there are several guided tours of the same at different prices. These tours take people inside the church and provide them with in-depth information about its construction, its architecture and its history. Visitors can climb up the steeple where the lanterns were hung, can go up the bell tower where Paul Revere rung bells as a kid, can explore the 37 tombs in the crypt and can admire the many artefacts littered around the structure.

The Old North Church is a very commonly visited historical site on the Freedom Trail and many just prefer to explore it while on the Trail itself. Other than that, it is possible to get here by the Subway; the MTBA Orange and Green lines drop passengers off less than a mile away, at Haymarket and North Station respectively, by the bus; Number 4 stops just a couple of blocks away, and by car; there is free as well as paid parking near the church but it has no designated parking.

An edifice inspired by the works of Christopher Wren, this 18th century church was built by William Prince and is now the oldest church building in Boston that is still in function. It was Timothy Cutler who served as its founding rector.

During the country's colonisation, the Old North Church was an Anglican congregation under the King and used Anglican liturgy which involved prayers for him; a Bible as well as some silver religious items were given to the church by King George II of England. The parish was guided by a Tory minister.

The Church is not only seen as a place of worship but also as the site of many significant colonial events, some associated with Paul Revere, the American patriot. The steeple, a landmark, was where Paul Revere instructed 3 Boston patriots to hang 2 lamps so as to be able to send signals regarding the British Army's movements. The message was delivered to the Charlestown patriots who prepared themselves for action across the Charles River. It is said that the lanterns conveyed the message "One if by land, and two if by sea."

In 1975, former President Gerald Ford came to the church to deliver a speech that spoke of those who fought for the country's independence years ago and of what the country should strive to be in the years to come, and lanterns were lit. The following year, in 1976, Queen Elizabeth II spoke about the President's speech, the country's freedom and its ideals.