The Second Church was a congregation active during 1649–1970, which occupied a number of locations around Boston, Massachusetts. It was first a Congregational church, and then beginning in 1802, a Unitarian church. In 1970, it merged with Boston's First Church. Its locations in Boston included North Square, Hanover Street, Copley Square, and the Fenway. Its ministers included Michael Powell, Increase Mather, Cotton Mather, and Ralph Waldo Emerson.

History

First Church in Boston was founded in 1630 by John Winthrop's original Puritan settlement. Second Church, also known as the "Church of the Mathers", was founded in 1649 when Boston's population spread to the North End and justified an additional congregation sited closer to those individuals' homes. From 1664 to 1741, its clergy consisted of Increase Mather, Cotton Mather, and Samuel Mather. Both churches were, later in their histories, examples of the westward movement of Boston churches from the crowded, older downtown area to the newer, more fashionable Back Bay. This area was developed for residential use after lowlands were filled in during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Following a disastrous fire at First Church's building in 1968, First Church and Second Church merged in 1970 and constructed a new building at 66 Marlborough Street, which was completed in 1972.

Buildings

Through its long history, the Second Church had some eight church buildings successively, located in various parts of Boston:

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Ministers

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