Arlington Street Church
Arlington Street Church is a brownstone landmark at the corner of Arlington and Boylston Streets in Back Bay, facing the Boston Public Garden. It opened in 1861 as the first public building in the neighborhood, and it is home to a Unitarian Universalist congregation that dates to 1729. Visitors come for the 16 Tiffany windows, the 190 foot spire and the story of a church tied to an early abolition petition, Vietnam War protests and a 2004 same-sex wedding described as the first state-sanctioned one in the country. This page covers where the church is, its history, what to see, visiting details, what sits nearby and how to reach it on a Boston Sightseeing bus. We checked the details on October 28, 2026, so confirm visiting hours and fees before you go.
Location
Arlington Street Church stands at the corner of Arlington and Boylston Streets in Back Bay, across from the Public Garden. The front doors are at 20 Arlington Street, and the church's mailing address is 351 Boylston Street. The nearest T station is Arlington on the Green Line. The church is sometimes placed in Beacon Hill, but it sits on the Back Bay side of the Public Garden, and Beacon Hill lies on the far side of the park.
Because it faces the Garden, the church makes an easy first stop on a walk through the area. Newbury Street and Copley Square are also in Back Bay, and Boston Common is across the Garden.
History
The congregation began in 1729 as the Church of the Presbyterian Strangers, meeting in a converted barn on Long Lane. In 1803 it called William Ellery Channing, the first major American Unitarian minister, who served until 1842. In 1859 the congregation voted to build a new church at Arlington and Boylston Streets. Construction ran from 1859 to 1861, and the church was dedicated on December 11, 1861. Arthur Gilman is the architect most often named, and some sources also credit Gridley James Fox Bryant.
Arlington Street Church was the first public building constructed in Back Bay. Over the years the congregation took public stands. In 1788 it joined a petition to the Massachusetts General Court to abolish slavery, and in 1967 it held a draft card turn-in service to protest the Vietnam War. On May 17, 2004, it celebrated a same-sex wedding that is described as the first state-sanctioned one in the United States.
The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and was designated a Boston Landmark in 1978. It is part of the Back Bay Historic District.
What to See
The church repays a slow look, inside and out. These are the features to watch for.
Architecture And Exterior
The exterior follows an 18th-century English style, modeled on St Martin-in-the-Fields in London. It is clad in New Jersey brownstone ashlar, and the spire reaches 190 feet. The building is often called Gothic Revival, but that is not how the church describes itself. Inside, the nave is lined with Corinthian columns.
Tiffany Windows
The church has 16 large windows by Tiffany Studios, installed over about three decades starting in the late 1890s. The church believes it holds the largest collection of Tiffany windows in any one church. The windows are the main reason many visitors ask to go inside.
The Bells And The Organ
The steeple holds 16 bells, each with a Biblical inscription, and they are rung by hand. The church describes them as one of only four sets in Boston still played that way. The organ is an Aeolian-Skinner instrument installed from 1955 to 1957.
Inside The Sanctuary
The sanctuary is of the basilica type, measures 65 by 90 feet and seats 912 people. Its nave has 25 foot Corinthian columns and a ceiling about 62 feet high. The pews are chestnut with black walnut rails, and the building rests on 999 wooden pilings driven into the old tidal flats.
Visitor Information
Check these points before you go:
- Address: The front doors are at 20 Arlington Street, and the mailing address is 351 Boylston Street.
- Visitor center: The church's visitor center is generally listed as open Monday to Friday, 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM, while another church page lists seasonal hours from May to October. The center is occasionally closed for services and events, so confirm before you go.
- Cost: The church lists admission as 5 dollars per person for tours, with children under 12 free with a paying adult.
- Ways to visit: Self-guided visits come with a printed guide, and docent tours can be booked in advance.
- Etiquette: Do not eat or drink in the church.
- Getting there: Take the Green Line to Arlington.
- Timing with the bus: Our buses run about 9:30 AM to about 5:00 PM, so check the church's hours against your ride.
Nearby Attractions
The church sits between the Public Garden and the shops and squares of Back Bay, so it fits easily into a day of must-see attractions. The Public Garden is across the street, and Trinity Church and the Boston Public Library sit around Copley Square, so you can compare the three buildings in a single walk.
On the other side of the Garden, the Beacon Hill area has narrow streets and historic homes. History fans can start the Freedom Trail at Boston Common, and our historical attractions guide lists more. Art lovers can add the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum to the day, and our Back Bay guide covers more shops and cafes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Arlington Street Church?
Arlington Street Church is a Unitarian Universalist congregation and a landmark church building at the corner of Arlington and Boylston Streets in Back Bay. The congregation dates to 1729, and the present church opened in 1861 across from the Boston Public Garden.
Where is Arlington Street Church?
It stands at the corner of Arlington and Boylston Streets in Back Bay, across from the Public Garden. The front doors are at 20 Arlington Street, and the church's mailing address is 351 Boylston Street. The Arlington stop on the Green Line is the closest T station.
Is Arlington Street Church in Beacon Hill or Back Bay?
It is in Back Bay. Arlington Street Church was the first public building constructed in the neighborhood, and Beacon Hill lies on the other side of the Public Garden.
When was Arlington Street Church built?
The congregation voted to build in 1859, construction ran from 1859 to 1861, and the church was dedicated on December 11, 1861.
Who designed Arlington Street Church?
Arlington Street Church was designed by Arthur Gilman. Some sources also credit Gridley James Fox Bryant, who worked with Gilman on the project.
What architectural style is Arlington Street Church?
It is not Gothic Revival. The church follows an 18th-century English style, and its exterior was modeled on St Martin-in-the-Fields in London. The interior is of the basilica type, and the walls are New Jersey brownstone.
What are the Tiffany windows at Arlington Street Church?
The church has 16 large windows by Tiffany Studios, installed over about three decades starting in the late 1890s. The church believes it holds the largest collection of Tiffany windows in any one church.
Can you visit inside Arlington Street Church?
Yes, through the church's Tiffany Education Center and visitor center. Self-guided visits come with a printed guide, and docent tours can be booked in advance. Hours and fees vary by season and by event, so confirm them with the church before you go.
How much does it cost to visit Arlington Street Church?
The church lists admission as 5 dollars per person for tours, with children under 12 free with a paying adult. A donation toward preservation is welcome. Confirm the current fee before your visit.
Why is Arlington Street Church historically important?
The congregation sent a petition to abolish slavery to the Massachusetts General Court in 1788, hosted a draft card turn-in service during the Vietnam War in 1967, and celebrated a same-sex wedding on May 17, 2004, which is described as the first state-sanctioned one in the United States.
How do I get to Arlington Street Church with Boston Sightseeing?
The church is not a bus stop. The closest stops on the Blue route are Stop 4, Boston Common, and Stop 7, Trinity Church, and both are covered by the 90 minute ticket and the All Day ticket. Check the tour map for the walking route.
Plan your Boston Tour with boston sightseeing
Arlington Street Church is not a bus stop, so you reach it on foot from a nearby Boston Sightseeing stop. The closest stops on the Blue route are Stop 4, Boston Common, and Stop 7, Trinity Church. Check the tour map for the walking route from each stop.
Both stops are on the Blue route, Stops 1 to 8, which the 90-minute and All Day tickets cover. Our buses run from about 9:30 AM to about 5:00 PM and come roughly every 30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic. A loop on the bus shows you how Back Bay, the Public Garden and Beacon Hill fit together before you step inside. Check the route and stop notice before you ride, since schedules can change by season.
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