The Stories of the Old North and the Old South
Though sometimes confused by tourists visiting Boston, the Old North Church and the Old South Meeting House, despite their cosmetic similarities, cannot be more different. Their histories, architecture, and the roles these two churches played during the period of the American Revolution offer interesting insights to the conflict that would break out into war in 1775.Old North Church
In regards to popular history, the Old North is easily the most historic of Boston's churches. Made famous by Longfellow's chronicle of Paul Revere's "Midnight Ride," and by the specially memorable line "one if by land, two if by sea," the church is considered a "must see" for tourists on Boston's Freedom Trail. While much of the Longfellow account is purely fictional, two signal lanterns were in fact displayed from its tall steeple in 1775. What is sometimes forgotten, however, is the fact that Old North was a Loyalist church. Which is why, during the British Military occupation of Boston, it was allowed to stay open and was not completely or partially destroyed (the fate of churches that opposed the British). Consecrated in 1723, Christ Church (as it is formally known), was pretty much of a "cookie-cutter" affair, its design likely taken from popular building pattern books of the era. In one area, however, the church differed greatly, and this is, of course, the size of the steeple. At 175 feet, the steeple was likely considered excessive or even profligate when it was added in the 1740s. Its construction was funded by a consortium of parishioners, who unbeknownst to the church and community, wished to use the over-sized tower for purposes of navigating their ships in the Boston Harbor. (By pure chance, the church was constructed in a direct alignment with the single shipping lane that cargo ships would use to enter the port.) Inside, the thing of most note, is the row of lovely candled chandeliers that runs down the center aisle. To this day, candle light is the only source of light on the main floor. Wedding ceremonies are usually conducted at night, by candlelight.
Old South Meeting House
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