Welcome to the
Old North Church!
“One if by land, and two if by sea!” With two lanterns shining from its steeple on April 18, 1775, Old North Church lit the way for the American Revolution. Come and explore 300 years of history at Boston’s oldest church building. Old North is a family-friendly Freedom Trail destination and active Episcopal Church. Join the warm and welcoming congregation for worship on Sundays.
Old North Church is open for tourism Tuesday – Saturday from 10am – 5pm and on Sunday from 12:30 – 5pm.
We are open on Memorial Day, May 26, from 10am – 5pm. Veterans and active duty service members get 15% off in our gift shops with a valid ID for the entire weekend (May 24 – 26).
For booking field trips or private group visits, please email jhobert@oldnorth.com.
Interpretative, educational, and preservation programs at the Old North Church are operated by Old North Illuminated.
Episcopal Church worship services are held Sundays at 11am.
All are welcome. Advanced reservations are welcome and invited to assist in weekly planning. Please click here to reserve.
Old North is offering a new Crypt Combo Package for $10 or ONLY $9 when you book online! The package includes a self-guided tour of the crypt where 1,100 people are laid to rest, our immersive audio guide, and general admission to the new exhibit in the church’s sanctuary. Reserve your spot >>
“Two if By Sea” and So Much More
What to Do at Old North Church
- Explore 300 years of history at the oldest church in Boston.
- Discover the secrets of our crypt.
- Have some fun with our kid-friendly scavenger hunt.
- Experience our immersive audio guide.
- Enjoy our award-winning history exhibit.
- See where Paul Revere rang bells.
- Hear the stories of famous congregants.
- Learn about the church’s Black and Indigenous history.
- Find out the true story behind Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride and “two if by sea.”
The History of Old North Church
Old North Church is world-famous for the dramatic events of April 18, 1775. That night, two Patriots broke Boston’s military curfew and secretly climbed Old North’s steeple to display two lanterns. The lanterns were a coded signal from Paul Revere that British troops were traveling across the Charles River (“by sea” and not “by land”) to seize military supplies stockpiled by colonists. The signal launched a network of riders who spread the message far and wide. The next morning, the first shots of war broke out with the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Old North had lit the way for the American Revolution. The poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow later immortalized Old North’s lantern signal with the phrase “one if by land, and two if by sea” in his poem “Paul Revere’s Ride.”
Old North Church tells a story of Patriots who risked everything for a cause they believed in. But it goes further. Old North is a microcosm of America as an unfinished work: an icon of liberty funded in part by slavery, a symbol of democracy where people worshiped according to social hierarchy, a 300-year-old community set in a neighborhood where successive waves of immigrants have come to pursue the American dream. Step inside to get a taste of our nation’s complicated and inspiring history—and future.
Bring Old North to Your Classroom
Old North Illuminated is pleased to offer digital curriculum units that are free for educators. These fully developed multimedia lessons engage students and inspire them to consider big questions. Learn about our classroom resources below!
Old North Teacher Guide (Grades K – 12): The activities in this guide explore the many aspects of Old North Church and cover a variety of subjects, including arts and STEM, and teach important skills such as interpreting primary sources, organizing data, and constructing an argument.
History Mystery (Grades 4 – 8): Who held the famous lantern signals in Old North Church’s steeple? Watch our three-part video series to solve this “history mystery” while learning to think like a historian.
Behind the Scenes Tour (Grades 5 – 12): Take a half-hour video tour of Old North Church’s most compelling spaces. Learn about the many people who helped build the church and its community over the past 300 years.
Chocolate as a Lens to the Past (Grade 5): In six different lessons, students are challenged to look at the history of chocolate in Boston from both a historical and scientific perspective while analyzing a variety of primary sources and designing their own scientific investigations.
Cacao and Colonial Chocolate (Grades 9 – 12): This curriculum for high school students traces the history of chocolate from the Maya through colonial Boston and the slave trade to the present day chocolate industry and its connection to child labor.
If you have questions or would like to learn more about any of these resources, please email Emily Spence at espence@oldnorth.com.
A House of Prayer for All People
The Old North Church (formally Christ Church) is the oldest Episcopal (Anglican) church in Boston. We were established over 300 years ago in 1723, more than 50 years before the American Revolution and the church’s famous lantern signal. The congregation and clergy seek to keep faithful to the mission of openness and welcome proclaimed by our first Rector, the Rev’d Dr. Timothy Cutler, in his inaugural sermon of 1723 on the text from Isaiah, “My House shall be called a House of Prayer for All People” (Isaiah 56:7).
Old North’s multicultural and intergenerational community is inspired by our history and committed to Gospel principles of justice and service, striving to shine beacons of light in our neighborhood, city, and the world. We are dedicated to learning from our past in order to be a more faithful, inclusive, and loving community today, nourished and sustained by scripture, sacraments, music, fellowship, and outreach beyond our walls. Learn more about the Old North Congregation here.
Whether you are here to worship with us during a visit to Boston or are seeking a spiritual home, please know we are delighted to welcome you to Old North Church. We offer both in-person and virtual worship.
Sunday services are offered at 11 am and are open to all. With regular visitors from across the country and world, advanced reservations assist in our planning. Please click here to reserve, or contact the church office via email:congregation@oldnorth.com.
Please join us virtually every Sunday by clicking here.
Explore Old North Church with Bloomberg Connects
Explore more of Old North Church Historic Site with our new digital guide on Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app. Download the app to learn more about the rich history of the church, its fascinating congregants, our connection to colonial chocolate, and more. Use the app to plan your visit, to get an enhanced experience while on site, or to dive deeper after your trip to the church. The free app can be used anytime, anywhere, and also features digital guides to hundreds of museums from around the world. Other Boston sites on Bloomberg Connects include the USS Constitution Museum, the Institute of Contemporary Art, and the MIT List Visual Arts Center.
To download the free app, scan the QR code below or visit this link. Once downloaded, open the app, scroll to “Old North Church & Historic Site” in the list of participating museums, and tap our logo to start exploring our guide.
A Site of Conscience
Old North Church Historic Site has been designated as a Site of Conscience by the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience (ICSC). With over 350 members in 65 countries, the ICSC is the only global network helping historic sites, museums, and memory initiatives connect past struggles to today’s movements for human rights and social justice. Each member abides by the ICSC’s four operating principles:
1. Interpret history through site.
2. Engage the public in programs that stimulate dialogue on pressing social issues.
3. Share opportunities for public involvement and positive action on the issues raised at the site.
4. Promote justice and universal cultures of human rights.
We are grateful for this meaningful recognition from the ICSC and we are eager to continue our work of illuminating the past as we build a brighter future.