Saint Aidan's Church and Rectory
Why it's listed
St. Aidan's Church and Rectory stand on a landscaped corner lot at Freeman and Pleasant Streets in Brookline. The church, built in 1911 to designs by Maginnis and Walsh, follows the Medieval Revival village-church model, with cross-gabled massing, local ashlar stone, stucco and half-timbering, a broach-spired belfry and slate roofs. Inside, exposed mahogany beams, mahogany wainscoting and stained glass by Murphy & Millson create a restrained but colorful interior. The rectory began as a house of 1850-1855, part of the Chadbourne estate, and was rebuilt and enlarged in 1920 to match the church. St. Aidan's was Brookline's third Catholic parish, founded in 1910, with Cardinal O'Connell laying the cornerstone in 1911. Monsignor John T. Creagh served as pastor from 1913 to 1951. The Joseph P. Kennedy family worshipped here, and John F. Kennedy was baptized in the church. The property was listed for its architecture and its role in the local Catholic community.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a fine example of the American Roman Catholic village church, designed by the nationally prominent firm of Maginnis and Walsh. It was Brookline's third Catholic parish and is tied to Cardinal O'Connell and Monsignor John T. Creagh, a noted canon law scholar. It was also the parish church where the Joseph P. Kennedy family worshipped and where John F. Kennedy was baptized.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 85003310, listed October 17, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 207 Freeman and 158 Pleasant Sts., Brookline |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | October 17, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85003310 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Maginnis and Walsh (church) |
| Architectural style | Medieval Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion, Social History |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The form describes the church as unchanged and still in religious use, in an intact neighborhood. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.34767, -71.11909 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 85003310.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7400882
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.