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ROXBURY'S MEETINGHOUSE

CAMPAIGN TO RESTORE THE MEETINGHOUSE INTERIOR

A LIVING LANDMARK

In colonial New England, the meetinghouse was the focal point of the community, where residents gathered to engage with each other and conduct the business of their civic life. 

Our project reclaims the meetinghouse's role for the 21st century. 

An historic jewel with particular significance to our neighborhood, the Meetinghouse is not a monument. Rather, it serves as a community landmark, and a living and breathing laboratory for art, civic engagement, and social action.

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As one of Roxbury’s largest gathering spaces, the rehabilitated First Church in Roxbury Meetinghouse will serve to amplify the artistry and cultural vibrancy of our neighborhood by hosting cross-cultural dialogue and celebration, concerts, lectures and political forums. 
 

With support from foundations and generous individuals, the UU Urban Ministry has raised and expended $2 million on restoring and painting the exterior and improving the surrounding landscaping. As exterior work nears completion, we are turning our attention inside to truly respond to our community’s call for improvements. 
 

Together, we are ushering in a new era for the Meetinghouse as a center of arts, education, and civic programming in the heart of Roxbury.

Check out this teaser video about the Meetinghouse campaign from our partner architectural firm, Dream Collaborative.

Please partner with us by contributing to our $2.8 million capital campaign.

JOIN US IN BUILDING COMMUNITY

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1631

European settlers gather to worship in what is now John Eliot Square.

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1976

The UU Urban Ministry becomes steward of the First Church in Roxbury.

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2017

Renovations begin to the Meetinghouse exterior, addressing decades of deferred maintenance.

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2019

Fundraising to complete the restoration of our historic gates and driveway is completed. A generous gift to fund the preservation of the historic Hook & Hastings organ is received and restoration begins.

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2022

The restored historic Hook & Hastings organ returns to the Meetinghouse and work on the interior is planned to begin in late-spring.

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1804

The current Meetinghouse -- the 5th on this site -- is constructed, making the First Church in Roxbury the oldest surviving wood-frame church in Boston.

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2003

The UU Urban Ministry constructs a new addition, the Education and Justice Center, and moves operations and programming to Roxbury.

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2018

UUUM initiates a strategic planning process focused on leveraging our campus to amplify the work of Roxbury-based artists, performers, and historians of color. Artists, neighbors, preservationists, and collaborators share their visions for the transformed space in a series of listening sessions.

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2020

Campaign begins to restore Meetinghouse interior.

MEETINGHOUSE SPOTLIGHT: HISTORIC GRAFFITI

When you climb the old wooden ladders towards the bell tower that are behind the organ in the Meetinghouse and come to the second and third floor, the walls are covered with graffiti from those who have done work on the building since the early 1800's.  Below are a few examples of this historic graffiti.

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MEETINGHOUSE SPOTLIGHT: JACKING UP THE CHURCH

Any time you're involved in a building or home renovation, , there's a chance you'll eventually face  unforeseen issues.  As we restore the historic Meetinghouse (First Church Roxbury) - a church completed in 1804 - this has been  the case.

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Recently, we discovered the church's wooden sill needed replacing, and to do this, the building needed to be *literally* jacked up.  Check out this video where you can see part of this process.

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