ABOUT US
Our mission at Eliot Congregational Church of Roxbury is to embody the teachings of Jesus Christ and to promote love, compassion, and understanding within our congregation and the wider community. We are dedicated to fostering a sense of belonging and to actively contributing to the betterment of society.
OUR VISION
To be a beacon of faith, love, and justice, nurturing spiritual growth and transforming lives through the power of Christ in our community and beyond.
WHAT WE DO
At Eliot Congregational Church of Roxbury, we share the Gospel through worship, teaching, and service. We promote repentance, baptism, and acts of love that reflect God’s righteousness. Our mission is lived out in both word and action, as we work to uplift and empower those around us.
OUR COMMUNITY
Rooted in the rich history of Roxbury, our church is a welcoming home for all who seek connection, purpose, and belonging. We come together in fellowship, faith, and service, embodying Christ’s command to “Love your neighbor as yourself,” as stated in Galatians 5:14.
OUR HISTORY
At the start of the nineteenth century, Roxbury was characterized by tanneries, breweries, and ropewalks, with craftsmen supplying goods to both Boston and the wider states. However, from the 1840s onward, certain areas of Roxbury, particularly south of Dudley Square, began to transition into more residential neighborhoods, as the uneven terrain deterred industries like leather tanning and brewing. This shift attracted those looking to build mansions and summer homes, leading to increased development, especially after a trolley line was established, connecting the area to downtown Boston. As Roxbury continued to, the demand for churches increased, paving the way for the Eliot Congregational Church's history, which began in Eliot Square with the First Church Roxbury.
Founded in 1834 and constructed in 1835 on Kenilworth Street in the Highlands, Eliot Congregational Church was the first church built by Orthodox Congregationalists who separated from the Church Roxbury when it became Unitarian. John Eliot, the “Apostle to the Indians,” played a significant role in its foundation. In the following decades, Eliot Congregational Church thrived, leading to the founding of the Vine Street Congregational Church in 1857 by some of its members. This church later moved to a new location on Moreland Street in 1876 and was renamed Im Congregational Church, which also prospered. Given the growing suburban population, Avenue Congregational Church was established in December 1870. in a thriving upper-middle-class neighborhood, the church was built in 1873 at a cost of $42,418.11 and showcased High Victorian Gothic design, highlighted by a 115-square-foot stained glass window by Louis Tiffany.
As demographics shifted in the early twentieth century, Walnut Avenue Congregational Church merged with Immanuel Congregational Church in 1907, forming the Immanuel-Walnut Congregational Church. Post-World War I, Eliot Church experienced rapid growth while Im-Walnut declined, ultimately leading to a merger where Eliot Church took residence in the Walnut Avenue building. The original church faced a devastating fire in 1929, but the 1873 structure remained intact. The chapel built in 1889 was reconstructed in 1931 but was later converted into a gymnasium due to declining attendance. The original Eliot Congregational Church on Kenilworth Street was lost to fire in 1953.