APUSH Boston Freedom Trail

Reverend Edward Dorr Griffin (1770-1837)

He was the first pastor of the Park St Church and a significant figure in the early 19th-century evangelical movement. Under his leadership, the church became known for its conservative theological stance and missionary efforts.

William Lloyd Garrison (1805-1879)

Garrison was an abolitionist and social reformer who delivered his first primary anti-slavery addresses at Park St. Church on July 4, 1829, calling for immediate emancipation.

Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896)

Stowe was connected to the abolitionist movement, and although she was not a regular speaker at Park St. Church, her ideas aligned with the church's progressive social advocacy. She was also the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which followed the life of a slave named Tom who faced physical brutality from slave drivers and his masters.

Reverend Dr. Arcturus Z. Conrad (1852-1937)

As pastor from 1905 to 1937, Conrad revitalized and solidified the church's role in the social, religious, and missionary outreach of the early 20th century. He also renovated the church. 

Federal Style

Park St. Church was built in the Federalist architectural style, highlighted by its elegance, symmetry, and classical simplicity.

Architect

Peter Banner designed the church in 1809. He incorporated its most iconic feature, its 217-foot steeple, which was once the tallest point in Boston. He also took influence for the steeple from the work of Sir Christopher Wren, specifically the St. Martin-in-the-Fields church in London

Interior Features

The church’s original interior design featured high galleries and a pulpit that emphasized the centrality of the sermon in Protestant worship.

Steeple Restoration

The steeple was restored multiple times, including a major renovation in the 1950s to prevent structural collapse and again in 2008 to ensure its preservation.

Interior Modernization

The church remains true to its Federalist roots; however, the interior has been updated to accommodate new modern worship services and significant events.

Civil Rights and Social Justice

The church remained a platform for social justice movements throughout its history. In the 20th century, it hosted gatherings advocating for civil rights and anti-war protests. 

It played an integral role in Boston’s abolitionist movement. Garrison’s 1829 address, known as the “Address to the Colonization Society,” was a milestone for the church’s activism against slavery.