Old North Church is a mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. Old North Church was one of the original congregations in the diocese, which was formed in 1783. Old North Church was a parish from 1723 until 1939, when it was changed to mission status due to a lack of members. While the membership of Old North has grown significantly in recent decades, the congregation remains a mission in recognition of its special vocation as a national landmark.

The bishop of the Diocese of Massachusetts is the rector of Old North Church. The bishop is represented by the vicar (who acts "vicariously" for the bishop). The vicar oversees the dozen full and part-time members of the staff who serve both the congregation and the historic site.

Old North Church is governed by The Corporation of Christ Church in the City of Boston. This board includes nine members of the congregation, plus the vicar and the bishop. The board meets monthly to oversee the operations of the church and the historic site.

A separate organization, The Old North Foundation, governed by a board of mostly non-church members, assists with the management of historic site programs and building preservation.


The Congregation at Old North Church
Old North Church has a congregation of about 150 members. Most of the members live in the North End/Waterfront or in the adjacent neighborhoods of Charlestown, Beacon Hill and Back Bay. A significant number of members commute in from outside of the city, drawn by the beauty and history of the church, the friendliness of the congregation, and/or because they were married at Old North Church.

The Old North congregation reflects the makeup of downtown Boston. We have many young professionals, married and single and a growing number of babies and toddlers. There are also a handful of school age children. We also include many "empty nesters" both married and single, who have settled back in town in the past decade.

The church offers inquirer's classes each year for those who formally want to become Episcopalians. These classes culminate in the Confirmation Service, presided over by one the bishops of the Diocese of Massachusetts.

Members of Old North Church are encouraged to take part in the many programs and committees of the church. Programs include:

Membership
Old North Church welcomes new members. To become a member is simple. Filling out a pew card during worship will put your on the church mailing list. Anyone who attends a few times a year and makes a financial contribution of record can become a member. You don't need to be an Episcopalian.