Second Church in Boston
Also known as: Ruggles Baptist Church
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Standing at the corner of Beacon Street and Park Drive in Boston's Audubon Circle neighborhood, this red brick and limestone church was designed in 1912 by Ralph Adams Cram and built by the Norcross Brothers Company. Its L-shaped plan joins a gable-roofed sanctuary with a three-story gambrel-roofed parish house, linked by a 130-foot tower with an octagonal limestone spire. The sanctuary has a pedimented temple facade with Corinthian pilasters, and its interior features classical plasterwork, coffered ceilings and mahogany pew boxes. The church was dedicated on November 8, 1914. Cram is best known for Gothic Revival churches, so this Georgian Revival design is an unusual departure in his work. The building also houses the parish founded in 1649, which was served by ministers including members of the Mather family, John Lathrop and Ralph Waldo Emerson, and which moved from Puritanism to Unitarianism. The church retains a high degree of integrity and is significant locally for architecture and religion.
Significance in brief: It is an unusual Georgian Revival design by noted architect Ralph Adams Cram, who is best known for Gothic Revival churches. It is also the only surviving building of one of Boston's oldest parishes, founded in 1649, and reflects the changing face of Unitarianism in the early 20th century. It is significant at the local level under Criteria A and C.
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 10000391, listed June 24, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 874, 876, 880 Beacon St, Boston |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | June 24, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000391 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1912-1960 |
| Architect / builder | Cram, Ralph Adams - Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson, Arch.; Norcross Brothers Company, builder |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival: Georgian Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as remarkably unchanged since its 1914 dedication, though the chancel was reconfigured and some original furnishings were removed. It remains in religious use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.34694, -71.10501 (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 10000391.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7443193
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.