The Old North Church strives to follow the mission of openness and welcome proclaimed by our first Rector, the Rev’d Dr. Timothy Cutler, in his inaugural sermon in 1723 on the text from Isaiah 56:7: “My House shall be called a House of Prayer for all people.” For over 300 years we have drawn people from every background and denomination who share in our worship and life together. Whether visiting Boston briefly or seeking a permanent spiritual home, know we are delighted to welcome you to Old North Church.

Worship at Old North is anchored in the revelation of God through Jesus Christ. There are no doctrinal requirements for attendance or even membership, but Sunday by Sunday, our liturgies include professions of faith using the historic Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds. In the course of the year, sermons, talks and discussions aim to strengthen and enrich biblical and theological understanding from a variety of perspectives, and to explore some of the challenges that life in the 21^st century presents to contemporary Christian discipleship.

Worship services at Old North are open to all without charge. Free-will offerings are collected in support of the church’s ministries.

Every Sunday

Our Sunday services follow the liturgies in the Episcopal Church’s Book of Common Prayer, supplemented by a rich array of resources from across our Anglican tradition, especially the Church of England and the Anglican Church of Canada, as well as our Lutheran full communion partners.

Most Sundays we celebrate the Holy Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or the Mass. Choral Matins (traditional Anglican Morning Prayer) is offered several times a year. Lessons & Carols are held in Advent and Epiphany.

Time: Our Sunday services are offered at 11 am from September through Independence Day weekend in July.

In 2026 we shift to 10 am for summer services on July 12, continuing through September 6 (Labor Day weekend).

Choral Evensong

The Old North Choir and Clergy are pleased to reintroduce traditional Choral Evensong this summer, with services offered on Thurs., June 25 and Fri., July 3. Old North’s Evensongs are offered at 6:00 pm.

A treasure of the Anglican liturgical tradition, dating to the first Book of Common Prayer of 1549, Evensong combines scripture, sung canticles and psalms, choral anthems, and prayer. Learn more here.

Details

Attire: We invite our visitors to dress comfortably, knowing that many are headed to other sightseeing opportunities. Of course, we welcome those who prefer to dress more formally for worship as well. On any Sunday one will see a wide range of attire. Our hope is that all feel welcome, included, and comfortable.

Parking: Discounted parking is available Sunday mornings at the North End Garage at 600 Commercial Street — at the corner of Commercial and Hull Street, two blocks from Old North. With church validation (available from an usher after worship), the parking fee is reduced until 1 pm.

Registration: We delight in welcoming visitors from across the country and the world. Advanced reservations are welcome and invited (though not required) to assist in our weekly planning. Please reserve your space below, or contact the church office: congregation@oldnorth.com

Sunday services are also livestreamed to our YouTube channel.

Holidays and Special Services

Old North offers a full schedule of special services for major Christian feasts, including Ash Wednesday, Holy Week and Easter, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We observe Independence Day with a patriotic service on the closest Sunday in July.

A highlight of our year is Remembrance Sunday, held on the second Sunday in November. In partnership with the British Officers Club of New England, and the British, Canadian, and Commonwealth diplomatic and military communities in New England, the Remembrance Sunday service includes recitation of the “In Flanders Fields” poem composed during World War I, bagpipes, moving music by our choir, and a solemn wreath laying ceremony.

On major anniversaries, the congregation has organized Lantern Services over Patriot’s Day weekend in April in honor of the church’s role in the American Revolution while reflecting on the meaning of faith, freedom, and democracy today. Recent speakers have included former Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry in 2023 and historian Heather Cox Richardson in 2025. Our 2026 Lantern Service featured a keynote address by the Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Episcopal Bishop of Washington, DC.

View the 2026 Lantern Service with Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde.

View the 2025 Lantern Service with Heather Cox Richardson.

View the 2023 Lantern Service with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.