Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 3d

America250 is working on an incredible storytelling project called "Our American Story." They're traveling the nation and collecting thousands of interviews with Americans.

They recently visited Old North Church to profile our Director of Education, Emily Spence:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGOt...

American Profiles | Emily Spence, Old North Church

YouTube video by America250

www.youtube.com

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Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 4d

It’s National Dessert Day! 🧁

What’s your favorite spot for something sweet in the North End?

Photos of Mike's Pastry, Modern Pastry, and Bova's Bakery in Boston's North End.

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Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 5d

For Indigenous Peoples' Day, we're sharing the story of Elizabeth, an Indigenous woman baptized at Old North in 1733.

What drew her to the church? What would her experience have been like? Dr. Jaimie Crumley considers these questions and more: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ot8...

Indigenous Women at Old North During the British Colonial Period

YouTube video by Old North Church & Historic Site

www.youtube.com

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Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 8d

Happy Anniversary to Paul and Rachel Revere, who wed on this day in 1773. Paul met Rachel soon after the death of his first wife, Sarah, and the two were married for 41 years. Rachel cared for the 6 surviving children from Paul’s first marriage and gave birth to 8 more children.

These portraits of Paul Revere and Rachel Walker Revere were commissioned in 1813 by their son, Joseph Warren Revere. They were painted by Gilbert Stuart.

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Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 9d

Matt Reed from Boston's Channel 5 News stopped by Old North's crypt to learn the story of the Cursed Brick. We love this video!

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Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 10d

The second steeple was 15 feet shorter than the original. The third steeple (our current one) is a close replica of the original steeple!

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Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 10d

On this day in 1804, our 1st steeple was knocked down in a windstorm known as “The Great Gale of Boston.” Two years later, a new steeple was added — it was 15 feet shorter and included a clock.

Our 2nd steeple, pictured here, survived until Hurricane Carol blew it over in 1954.

A black and white photo of steeplejacks climbing Old North’s second steeple.

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Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 11d

This is the English bond style of masonry, where each row switches the direction the bricks are laid to give the building stability.

Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 11d

Take a close look at Old North Church’s front wall — doesn’t it look like the bricks are different sizes?

In fact, the bricks are the same size! The smaller appearing bricks are actually inverted beneath the longer appearing bricks.

The front wall at the entrance of the Old North Church. Photo by Arlan Fonseca.

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Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 12d

Yesterday's Blessing of the Animals was a delight!

So many furry friends stopped by to receive special blessings from Old North's clergy.

Dogs and their owners wait to receive blessings from Old North Church's vicar, the Rev. Dr. Matthew Cadwell.

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Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 15d

Join us on Saturday for a New England Revolution Watch Party!

www.eventbrite.com/e/new-englan...

New England Revolution @nerevolution.bsky.social · 16d

🎉 Calling all #NERevs fans! Join us for our final watch party for the #MIAvNE matchup!

📍 Old North Church, Boston
📅 Saturday, October 4 @ 7:30PM

Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 16d

Wednesday! Join historian @lizcovart.bsky.social on Zoom for a conversation about the forgotten stories of America's "rough drafts."

Before the Articles of Confederation, Americans spent over a century struggling to unite — and mostly failing spectacularly. www.eventbrite.com/e/the-first-...

The First Drafts of the United States: Early Experiments in American Union - With Liz Covart of the Ben Franklin's World Podcast (Image: Ben Franklin's "Join or Die" cartoon, with a chopped-up snake representing the colonies.)

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Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 17d

“I think we need to get back to a place where we can disagree with each other without making it personal,” said Belinda. Her husband agreed. “We have friends that we don’t agree with politically, but that’s OK. ... We choose to love everybody.”

So we went to the Old North Church, the earliest warning system in this country’s history. Paul Revere knew when it was time to giddy up.
Tim and Belinda Meier of Minneapolis are not advocating starting a revolution. But they believe the country is polarized and they are praying for it.
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“I think we need to get back to a place where we can disagree with each other without making it personal,” says Belinda. “But I think until our leadership, nationally and locally, start behaving in a more subtle way, people think it’s OK to spew hatred.” Her husband agrees. “We have friends that we don’t agree with politically, but that’s OK. ... We choose to love everybody.”

Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 17d

The Boston Globe featured Old North Church in their latest "As I See It" column. Tim and Belinda, two visitors from Minneapolis, were asked how America could stop hate.

www.bostonglobe.com/2025/09/29/m...

Silent fears and simple acts: America’s battle against hate
“As I See It,” a weekly photo column by Pulitzer Prize winner Stan Grossfeld, brings the stories of New England to Globe readers.

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Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 18d

Calling all Boston area pet owners! This Sunday, October 5 at 1pm, Old North Church will host its annual Blessing of the Animals.

Come and bring your pet (on a leash or in a carrier) and get a special blessing from the Vicar! People of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome.

A dog receiving a blessing from the Rev. Dr. Matthew Cadwell at Old North Church's Blessing of the Animals. The dog is being held by his owner.

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Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 21d

Happy 303rd Birthday to Samuel Adams!

When you visit Old North Church, be sure to stop by Faneuil Hall Plaza to see this striking statue of the Founding Father.

The statue of Samuel Adams in front of Faneuil Hall.

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Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 22d

POV: You're taking an After-Hours Crypt Tour.

An Educator dressed in colonial garb opens the door to the crypt at the Old North Church.

An Educator leads an After-Hours Tour of Old North Church's crypt.

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Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 23d

Have you ever run into this gentleman in the North End?

Statue of an old man with bug eyes smoking a cigar and holding a cigar box in the North End of Boston.

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Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 23d

Another advantage of the box pews is that they could be decorated with wallpaper and cushions. So, pew owners could customize their pew to their liking.

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Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 23d

Great question! The walls of the box pews helped keep heat in during the cold winter months. Parishioners would bring a foot warmer (heated with a hot brick or a piece of coal) from home and place it in their pew.

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Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 24d

In addition to the purchase price, pew owners had to pay a yearly tax and make regular donations. Only box pew owners had the right to vote on church matters.

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Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 24d

Box pews were fashionable in colonial churches in the 18th century. People who worshiped at Old North had to buy their seating, so box pews were considered property.

Owning a box pew was very expensive. Some cost the equivalent of a day laborer’s annual salary!

A photo of the box pews in the sanctuary of the Old North Church.

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Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 25d

On Saturday, October 4, soccer lovers and history lovers will unite at the Old North Church for a very special New England Revolution Watch Party!

Come to our Washington Garden to watch the Revolution take on Inter Miami at 7:30pm. RSVP here:
www.eventbrite.com/e/new-englan...

Away Watch Party - October 4- 7:00pm Doors Open - 7:30pm Kickoff - Old North Church, 193 Salem Street, Boston, MA - First 20 Fans Will Receive a Revolution Scarf (Photo of Old North Church's steeple and a photo of a New England Revolution player.)

Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 26d

On this day in 1940, Boston’s Paul Revere statue was unveiled!

Around 8,000 people gathered to watch the big reveal, including the statue’s sculptor, 79-year-old Cyrus Dallin. He had waited 55 years since a committee had first selected his design to see the statue displayed.

The Paul Revere statue in Boston's North End with the Old North Church in the background.

A photo of Cyrus Dallin working on a model of the Paul Revere statue.

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Old North @oldnorth1723.bsky.social · 29d

Our Educators really went all out for Casual Friday.

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