Have you ever felt the weight of history beneath your feet? Stand here before Mount Calvary Holy Church. This unassuming building on Otisfield Street in Roxbury holds a remarkable story. It’s a story of two faiths two communities and a testament to the ever-changing face of Boston.
Mount Calvary Holy Church isn’t just a place of worship. It’s a living monument. It began life as Congregation Sharei Tfila a synagogue built in 1915. Imagine the sounds of Hebrew prayers echoing within these walls. The building’s design was the work of architect A J Carpenter Jr. He also designed the adjacent Roxbury Hebrew School built in 1923. This school once housed 600 students boasting three libraries and twenty classrooms. Simon and Ida Cabelinsky founders of Sharei Tfila donated 10000 textbooks. Some may still remain within the church today.
The synagogue thrived for decades. It was a hub for the burgeoning Jewish community in Roxbury. But times changed. By the mid-20th century many Jewish families moved to other neighborhoods. In 1961 Sharei Tfila disbanded. The building was then purchased by Mount Calvary Holy Church an African-American Pentecostal church founded in Winston-Salem North Carolina in 1927.
Bishop Brumfield Johnson the church’s founder led a revival that spread across the country. The church eventually moved its headquarters to Boston. This was after a fire destroyed their Buffalo New York location in 1960. Mount Calvary Holy Church became a beacon of hope for the Roxbury community. Under the leadership of Bishop Nellie Yarborough the church ran a soup kitchen and provided day treatment for the mentally ill.
Sadly Mount Calvary Holy Church closed in 2013. The building has stood vacant since then. However its rich history remains. It’s a reminder that places of worship are more than just buildings. They are living stories shaped by faith community and the passage of time. This building stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of Boston. It shows how different groups shaped and reshaped this vibrant city. Mount Calvary Holy Church’s story is one of faith resilience and the enduring power of community. Let’s remember and honor the legacy of both the Jewish and Pentecostal communities who called this place home.