Religious Institutions and History in Cambridge

Locations:

  • First Church in Cambridge
  • Christ Church Cambridge
  • The First Parish Cambridge
  • The Old Burial Ground
  • Harvard University 
  • Memorial Church 
  • St. Paul’s Parish 
  • Old Cambridge Baptist Church 


The tour I have designed is a tour of religious institutions and religious history in Cambridge. Cambridge boasts some extremely historical and beautiful churches and Harvard University itself began as a seminary. The first stop will be the First Church in Cambridge which was founded in 1636 as the 11th church in Massachusetts. The next stop will be the Christ Church in Cambridge which was built in 1759 by a missionary. This church was also the sight of numerous historical civil war events. The third stop on the tour will be the First Parish Cambridge which is located right by Harvard University and is locally involved with the Y2Y homeless shelter. The fourth stop will be the Old Burial Ground connected to the First Parish Cambridge to discuss the history of the burial ground and how development in theology impacted burial practices. The fifth and sixth stops will be Harvard University which began as a seminary school and Memorial Church which was built in memory of students and alumni who have died in various wars. The tour will end with stops at St. Paul’s Parish and Old Cambridge Baptist Church which were founded relatively recently. 


Each of these churches and religious sites play a crucial role in the social role of religion and many of them also actively engage in politics whether local or national. Several have ties to slavery, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and many other historical events. Changes in church theology also reflect larger societal changes in the perceptions of women, children, race and ethnicity, the LGBTQ+ community and more. Massachusetts itself was founded as a Puritan colony and a study of these churches and religious sites offer a unique insight into the role of religion and its impact on Cambridge.


Overview of the Tour


Old Cambridge Baptist Church 

Christ Church Cambridge


First Church in Cambridge


Memorial Church 


Harvard University 


St. Paul’s Parish


The First Parish Cambridge & The Old Burial Ground


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