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.