Covenant Church

Gazing at the Church of the Covenant, one might mistake it for just another charming building on Newbury Street. But behind its Roxbury puddingstone facade lies a rich history intertwined with art, faith, and even Hollywood. The Church of the Covenant, originally known as Central Church, wasn’t always Presbyterian and United Church of Christ. It began as Central Congregational Church. Built between 1865 and 1867, it was one of the first churches to grace the newly developed Back Bay. Its construction was largely funded by Benjamin Bates, the same industrialist who founded Bates College. The architect, Richard M. Upjohn, envisioned a grand Gothic Revival structure, a steeple that would dwarf even ordinary houses. And indeed, its 240-foot steeple surpasses even the Bunker Hill Monument. Oliver Wendell Holmes himself admired its perfect form. Step inside, and you’ll find yourself enveloped in a symphony of color and light. In the 1890s, Tiffany Glass and Decorating Co. transformed the sanctuary. Stained-glass windows and mosaics shimmer, illuminated by an electric-light chandelier originally designed by Tiffany’s Jacob Adolphus Holzer for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exhibition in Chicago. The Church of the Covenant holds a unique place in cinematic history. The opening scene of the 1999 film “Boondock Saints” was filmed right here. The scene, featuring two devout Catholic brothers, needed a church setting. Finding a church open to the film’s themes proved difficult. The Church of the Covenant eventually agreed, even though it isn’t a Catholic church. The imposing crucifix seen in the scene? A prop built specifically for the film. The Church of the Covenant has witnessed the changing tides of Boston. It stands as a testament to the city’s evolving religious landscape and architectural heritage. It’s not just a church; it’s a piece of Boston’s story, etched in stone, glass, and light.