Arlington Street Church

Absolutely beautiful architecture, amazing history, and a living and breathing spirit within. The musicians are lovely, the Ministers are wonderful to listen to, and the congregation is friendly and happy to be there. If you ask ahead of time or ask very nicely after worship is over, you may be lucky enough to get a tour of the sanctuary and bell tower, and hear the many historical stories the church has in store. This isn't something that happens very often, but it's not impossible.

The church was okay but I like a livelier setting. The church consisted of older adults and there were no children to have them come up to the front for a quick reading or short activity before being dismissed for religious education. The part I disliked was there was no air conditioning and the seats were pews and they were sectioned off like penalty boxes in ice hockey. The church was large and absolutely beautiful, however. It looked like it was once used for Catholic Mass.

We stopped here to see the Tiffany stained glass windows and they did not disappoint..! $5 donation per person to experience those - knock on the Boylston Street lower side door to gain entry.

Gives really nice tours and provides lots of information for visitors. Tiffany styled stain glass Windows are its highlight, and its history and that beautiful organ is its star! Very Serene and fills you with satisfaction as you tour through it. People practice music as sound reverberates through the halls.

A beautiful sermon about moving forward. It's so so geourgeos and breathtaking there. I 100% want to go again. We took a tour and got to ring bells in the tower which was amazing. Highly recommend going whoever you are GO.

Even though they are in renovation it is a great landmark of American history

There are very beautiful stained glass windows. I sincerely recommend to come there and look at all of them.

Tiffany Stain Glass are so unique! History and traditions of the church was very interesting and guide was very knowledgeable. We were walking by when we saw the invitation on the bulletin board.

I have wanted to come to this magnificent church since 1968 when I first learned about Unitarian philosophy and my journey away from Catholic dogma began. It's been a long but wonderful road. I am thankful for my membership at the First Unitarian in Philadelphia for many years and since I moved to Washington DC, at All Souls Unitarian. Still, this magnificent building is no different than going to Santiago de Compostela for a Roman Catholic and worth of a pilgrimage. This is the Unitarian Church that made it all happen in the world of Liberal religion and humanistic faith. Although the actual edifice has changed, within its confines, laid in 1729, the American Unitarian Church was founded. This was the worship center for Ralph Waldo Emerson, attended by David Thoreau, Pickering, and a Who's Who of our Founding Fathers. It was the home church of William Ellery Channing, who ministered there for almost 20 years. It was also one of the first sites of rebellion against the British, the site of Massachusetts's ratification of the Constitution, and the site of the first petition of 1788 for abolition of slavery. In modern times, it was also the site of the first legal same sex wedding in the United States in 2004. Like its sister church at All Souls in Washington, the edifice is patterned after St. Martin in the Fields in England. The 16 massive Tiffany stained glass windows surround the New England-style box pews of solid American chestnut where families would worship and keep away from Winter drafts. The service today was especially powerful. it was titled "No sanction for Bigotry" and was derived from George Washington's letter to the first Jewish synagogue in the US in Truro, Rhode Island, in which our Founding Father uttered these same words. The sermon was co-delivered by a Muslim imam and together, the Imam and the Reverend Kim K. Crawford Harvie delivered a rebuke to the radical philosophy of exclusion and hate proposed by many political pundits. The service was well attended and following the service, I was able to meet and chat with many of the parishioners. It was indeed a wonderful experience.

This is a UU church, so it draws on Jewish, Christian, and many other faiths. Those of us who don't believe only one religion is correct will find comfort here! The basement hosts the "Friday Night Supper Club," serving dinner to Boston's less fortunate weekly. Volunteers are always welcome throughout the day. The basement also doubles as a women's shelter: The Women's Lunch Place. You can often see visitors perched out front, on the sidewalk, seeking donations. THE DEAL: Come to view the stunning stained glass alone! Along with the Tiffany chandelier, there are many unforgettable, gigantic Tiffany stained glass windows...JUST GORGEOUS!

This is a Unitarian philosophy so more progressive than most Christians churches. It is a Liberal religion and humanistic faith. But the building was laid in 1729. This was the worship center for Ralph Waldo Emerson, attended by David Thoreau, Pickering, and a Who's Who of our Founding Fathers. It was also one of the first sites of rebellion against the British, the site of Massachusetts's ratification of the Constitution, and the site of the first petition of 1788 for abolition of slavery. In modern times, it was also the site of the first legal same sex wedding in the United States in 2004. This church may or may not be for you but the church is beautiful and worth checking out.

Looking for a queer friendly, social justice focused, progressive spiritual home, I was advised to check out Arlington Street Church. My wife and I attended Christmas Eve services, and while the church was beautiful, congregation very queer friendly, and the sermon was inspiring, I don't think we'll ever have enough income to truly belong to this congregation. It appears to be an affluent congregation that is dedicated to doing good works, but a sense of othering comes on strong from the pulpit. People of lesser means appear to be in a category separate from the one folks in this congregation place themselves; it came off as if to say people in different socio- economic classes are okay as long as they are recipients of charity, but are not actual members of the church. When the collection plate came around, the few dollars my wife and I put in was slightly sneered at by the young female usher, but the twenties donated by our seatmates were met with a smile and an enthusiastic "Merry Christmas!" I'm sorry it obviously wasn't enough. We're working class adult students. We gave what we had. Sure, I know the church does a lot of good works. And I know these good works take money. And I can only imagine the cost of maintaining such a building. But there seems to be a discrepency between the self stated values of this church and the actuality of embodied consciousness.

I grew up gay and Irish Catholic - being Irish was cool the whole time, being gay was cool once I sorted it out and came out, being Catholic has had some moments of salvation and far too many moments of rage. Some people find solace in the faith they grow up in, some feel the urge to seek it out in other places. I have for years considered myself a Unitarian Universalist, since the Roman Catholic Church wasn't really meshing with my vision of God and the rest. But I didn't do much about it besides write it on the hospital form if I was going in for surgery. Three years ago I started going to Arlington Street Church. As a UU church, it draws on Jewish, Christian, and other faiths but really challenges you to think about your own relationship with God and this world, so whether you believe there can't be a God or you're sure He was the Babydaddy of Jesus, you can find your space here. I know some people have tried the church and it's not Jesus-y enough for them; ok, that's cool. Biggest plus: Kim's sermons are awesome. I have teared up listening to them on more than one occasion. They are available via podcast, and me - who would never consider himself religious - download them every week. I have played them for friends. The sermons have kept me connected to ASC as I moved away for two years for grad school. Listened in on Saturday afternoons in Chicago, on the bus while I was living in Barcelona, on a Kenyan matatu ride or Mumbai hotel during a round the world trip. They always have at least one nugget of wisdom that I walk away with. More: It's a church that is strong in social action. I haven't found the congregation clique-y as Mark did - diverse, yes, but friendly during coffee hour, which helps on the weeks I attend alone. Too late for this season: The Christmas Eve service is wonderful, including the part where candles are lit from person-to-person until the whole church is only candlelight, while we sing Silent Night. Go next year! Bonus: There are sixteen Tiffany stained glass windows, which is believed to be the largest collection of Tiffany windows in any church.

I went here for Easter service last year, and the parishioners (or whatever you call them at a non-Catholic church) were very nice. The only thing that threw me was the joining hands to pray part, since I was alone in my pew with a guy about my age, and so basically ended up holding hands with him. That was a bit strange. But other than that, it's a very nice and open church. They accept anyone, which is exactly the kind of place I personally like. Services are at 11am on Sundays, and it's Unitarian, FYI.

I have been a member here for over 15 years and no longer attend due to having been made uncomfortable by being sexually harassed and assaulted repeatedly by one of the lead members who still happens to be in charge of the annual fundraising gala. I also have been treated inconsiderately and ignorantly in an over the top manner by fellow members in committees that I once served on. One circumstance stands out where I told the former treasurer that I was a professional barber and she responded with "just a regular barber?" and walked away from me and refused to speak to me there on. Other circumstances include being spoken over by other committee members as if I didn't exist or matter. There is definitely a sort of snobbery by professional over achievers (the majority of whom are gay and lesbian former Catholics) who look down their noses at blue collar or less successful people regardless of their intellectual capability. Some of the membership love to spout off about all of their degrees and accomplishments in a sort of proud and arrogant manner. However this could perhaps be blamed on the leadership in the pulpit where I remember it being mentioned that you probably don't belong unless you're are some sort of professional leader. This sort of rubbish is so childish that it makes you feel like you're back in grammar school and doesn't reflect the community philosophy of the UUA. The minister is also insulated by a sort of lesbian clique and isn't very pastoral usually the pastoral duties are relegated to an assistant minister or the minister at large. She has always been very nice to me and I feel that she is very warm and spiritual but I feel that she is aloof from the congregation. It would have been nice if she came downstairs occasionally and hung out with the rabble. Maybe if she had done so there would have been less of a pathetic group on the receiving line. Then there is this assistant minister who identifies as a UU Jew who just loves to whine and pine about her Jewishness and doesn't seem to endeavor to get past it. I think most of us became Unitarians in order to find a progressive and personal experience in finding their own interpretation of a higher power, not to be converted or be made sympathetic to a primitive Stone Age, constrictive, fascist religion under the guise of a Unitarian Universalist sermon. Also the music director, who I don't feel is very friendly or nice likes to add drums to old hymns or adapt them so that they have a sort of sound similar to the Indigo Girls which I feel is done purposely so as to be simpatico to the lesbian membership. I took a break for year and did try to attend the church recently but found that I was too embittered by my past treatment to be an active and positive member. For a place that is meant to be for spiritual insight and expression, it seems that quite a few people there lack insight and knowledge of humility and courtesy. Although I'm not a believer of the Catholic Church, my being raised by French Catholics did have very many positive attributes and I feel that it has made me a better person. I guess my last criticism of Arlington Street Church is that there are quite a few people here who are hypocrites and merely come here on Sunday to make themselves feel better about being horrible human beings the rest of the week. I also want to add that I was never once apologized to for any of this horrible behavior. It's too bad because I honestly enjoyed and was touched by the sermons and did make some good friends and I did have many positive experiences but just like when a house has a back flow from the sewer sometimes you can't go back because the atmosphere has been tainted.

Life is really tough without any friends. I have to support myself working as a landscaper. Cutting trees and cutting bushes. Friends are my real estate. I invited my boss and his son to have dinner with me at the church.

Beautiful church for certain - can't spring for a 5 as just a spectator.

Church members invited anyone marching today in the counter protest rally into their parish for a great spread of food and drinks with no commission, just a donation box. I was looking for a bathroom, and I was given that plus excellent food and drink. They are living the mission of Christ over there. Very proud to see the Christian churches like this being active in political and social movements.

i too am a recovering catholic, and i found great comfort in my first time here. rituals that felt familiar, but with the love and acceptance you'd want in a spiritual message. i could see how it could get a little mushy gushy- i'm not there yet but we'll see. i sat in the balcony area which was lovely- still participating, but from a distance which offers a bird's eye view and a little more privacy. going here was actually quite healing for me (who knew?) after many years away from church.