By Mark Hurwitz Rev. William Croswell served as Minister of Old North Church from 1829-40. He was not married and he did not have any family who attended the church. It’s possible that Croswell never owned a pew, but we do know he preached from our beautiful wine glass pulpit. During his lifetime, he immensely […]
This Old Pew: #19 – The Troubled Tenure of Rev. William Thomas Smithett
By Lou Rocco Reverend William Thomas Smithett served as the Rector of Christ Church from 1851 to 1859 and owned Pew #19. His tenure as Rector undoubtedly ranks among the most disgraceful, embarrassing, and litigious periods in Old North’s nearly 300 year history. Rev. Smithett was serving as the minister of the Church of the […]
This Old Pew: #17 – John Hooton, Jr.
By Mark Hurwitz John Hooton, Jr., owner of pew #17, was born September 4, 1754 in Boston. He served as Junior Warden of Christ Church (Old North) in 1770-71 and as Senior Warden in 1772, following in the footsteps of his father, John Hooton, Sr., who served as Junior Warden in 1732-34 and Senior Warden […]
This Old Pew – Upper Level Gallery
By Amy Budge “And who sat up there?” This is a question often received in reference to Old North’s upper gallery. From the lower level, the pews above seem miles away; a looming set of white rows disconnected from the world below. This observation, perhaps, points directly to the answer of who occupied those pews. […]
This Old Pew: #8 – Mary Gibbs
By Amy Budge “With an extension of her allusion religious activities can be seen as a means used by New England women to define self and find community, two functions that worldly occupations more likely performed for men.” – Nancy F. Cott, The Bonds of Womanhood Forever stamped on the brass plate of Pew No.8, […]
