Churches & Places of Worship in Boston, MA

“A place where you truly feel God’s presence

Every time I walk into this church, the service genuinely touches my heart. There’s something powerful about the atmosphere whether it’s the worship, the message, or the sense of community that makes you feel connected the moment you enter the body of God.

The sermons are meaningful, relatable, and uplifting, and they always seem to speak to exactly what you need in that moment. You don’t just attend a service here, you experience it.

This church is a blessing, and I’m grateful every time I’m able to be part of a service.”

“Stunning church in the north end. Definitely visit this church if you are strolling by. I only happened to stumble upon it by accident, it is kind of hidden away.”

“Beautiful, ornate church. I love that this parish is right in the middle of a neighborhood. I was here for just a short time. Thankful to be able to attend Mass.”

“This review represents only MY experience and understanding of First Church and its liturgy. By way of introduction, I don't consider myself a Christian, and for years avoided church because I was turned off by the Christian creed. (For those unfamiliar with the UU tradition, UU churches are noncreedal, something I find refreshing.) I've been attending First Church since 2008, and love it. First, I'd like to respond to and hopefully clarify prior observations about the church's Christian influence. From my understanding, UU churches range broadly with regard to their liturgical influences. While there is a Christian influence in the liturgy, we typically do not refer to "Christ," or anything that invokes the Trinity (we are, after all, Unitarians). References to Christ per se occur at Christmas and Easter. They also occur during the short communion services held monthly after the main service for those who choose to partake in them. To be clear, while we refer regularly to Jesus the teacher, the holy man, and the revolutionary, we do not refer to Jesus dying for our sins. We also do not refer to the virgin birth, the resurrection, and so forth, all of which were prominent elements of my Congregational/UCC background. But enough of what we are NOT. I'd also like to comment on what I find First Church to be, and why I keep coming back: I like that the sermons, readings, and other thematic content in the services draw from a broad range of spiritual and secular traditions. I find our cross comforting as a pleasant holdover from childhood and as a meaningful object of meditation. I like reciting the Lord's Prayer as one reminder of how to live ethically. I like our use of "God," because there is no expectation that everyone believes in God or that everyone's conception of God is the same. I love our choir, our soloist, and our historic organ. I love seeing our beautiful children enjoy our religious education program. I love our beautiful and historic building. I appreciate the contrasts among different components of our worship services. I find our minister, the Rev. Terry Burke, to be wise, warm, and wonderful, active politically, and very kind. And as James pointed out in his review, we are very friendly, which is important to me. Our congregation is spirited, caring, and energetic. I would recommend that anyone researching churches go back several times to any church they are investigating. One service is simply not enough to get to know a church community's strengths, challenges, and "feel." My experience of church changes from week to week depending on my mood, what else is going on in my life, and the flow of energy around me. In closing, I feel very much at home at First Church in Jamaica Plain and am proud to be a member.”

“It was great to see the beautiful architecture of the old church, inside and outside. The wood carvings were too beautiful to describe. It is not a quick trip. There is so much to see. Everywhere I looked was amazing ?”

“Gorgeous Building it kept your attention from outside !
The building is a landmark and it’s next to the public library.
It’s a must to visit!”

“I am originally from Texas and have had a tough time finding a church home in Boston. I came across Charles River Church while on a run and have loved it! They have an incredible community! They are very welcoming and the teachings are deeply rooted in the Bible.”

“We loved our visit to the Shrine and Monsignor too. He was just wonderful and gave such an amazing homily. The church was so full and the cantor was very gifted. It brought us such joy to worship here surrounded by ships and the sea.”

“I was driving a Friend home and I saw
“Madonna Queen of the Universe “,
She was lit up so Brilliantly she Stunned me as Glowing Figure in the night.”

“After walking the Camino Santiago, this basilica, you can tell is younger by about 100 years.

When I went in, I was thinking about the architecture and those who were involved with this massive project.. What influenced the designer and who were the laborers that made the parts and put them together? Who painted the faux stone, the ceilings of saints, fabricated the benches and put the tile on the floor?

More than just a place of prayer, a place ofmany hands, quiet thought and meditation”

“CLJ is the best church I've been to in Boston. I've been a member since 2008. I am very blessed to be part of this organization. This church is Bible-based and is very well organized. It has an amazing worship team and many programs that serve its members and the community. It's great! Come visit us!”

“This is an inspiring church to visit. There are always Scriptural readings curated from the entire Bible, matched with insightful and practical homilies. I always gain new spiritual insights during services and the last time our son attended the Sunday School he experienced a physical healing. Of all the pastors in the world that I could have preaching to me on any given Sunday morning, I especially appreciate the life, love, and healing practice of Mary Baker Eddy (the Pastor Emeritus) that undergirds everything presented in homilies by skillful readers of her book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. The majestic organ and beautiful architecture certainly add to services but can also be enjoyed by taking a tour.”