Second Church in Boston (first) holds its first service.

Also known as Old North Meeting House or the “Church of the Mathers,” it is located at today’s 12 North Square. The congregation was established in 1649. John Mayo and Samuel Mather are the first ministers. Their successors include Increase Mather (1664 to 1723) and Cotton Mather (1685-1728). The building is destroyed by a fire on November 26, 1676, rebuilt (second) in 1677,* then torn down for firewood by British soldiers in 1776.* The congregation merges and moves into the New Brick Church on Hanover Street (third) in 1779.* That building is replaced (fourth) in 1845.* The congregation purchases the former Freeman Place Chapel (fifth) in 1850. It merges with the Church of the Saviour and moves to Bedford Street (sixth) in 1854, to Boylston Street (seventh) in 1874,* to Beacon Street (eighth) in 1914,* and merges with and moves to the First Church in Boston on Marlborough Street (ninth) in 1970.