First Church Boston

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First Church Boston

Site overview

In 1967, a fire destroyed most of the original 1867 gothic revival church by William Ware and Henry Van Brunt. The congregation considered proposals from Marcel Breuer, Joseph Schiffer, Joseph Eldridge, and Paul Rudolph. They voted in favor of Rudolph’s design, which incorporated “the remains of the local ‘puddingstone’ tower, steeple and facade of the original 1868 building to serve as the East walls of the new building. The charred wood frame of the original rose window opening is left to serve as a reminder of the 1968 fire.” (Paul Ruolph Institute for Modern Architecture) Rudolph’s work “successfully married the remaining elements of the original building with his lower vertically ribbed ‘corduroy’ concrete structure and added a small external amphitheater and a preschool to the sanctuary.” (SAH Archipedia)

First Church Boston

The remains of the 1867 gothic revival church - the bell tower and frame of the rose window - were left intact and incorporated into Rudolph's new modern design. 

Credit

Backbayhouses.org

Site overview

In 1967, a fire destroyed most of the original 1867 gothic revival church by William Ware and Henry Van Brunt. The congregation considered proposals from Marcel Breuer, Joseph Schiffer, Joseph Eldridge, and Paul Rudolph. They voted in favor of Rudolph’s design, which incorporated “the remains of the local ‘puddingstone’ tower, steeple and facade of the original 1868 building to serve as the East walls of the new building. The charred wood frame of the original rose window opening is left to serve as a reminder of the 1968 fire.” (Paul Ruolph Institute for Modern Architecture) Rudolph’s work “successfully married the remaining elements of the original building with his lower vertically ribbed ‘corduroy’ concrete structure and added a small external amphitheater and a preschool to the sanctuary.” (SAH Archipedia)

First Church Boston

Rendering of an early scheme for the new church interior by Paul Rudolph.

Credit

© The Estate of Paul Rudolph, The Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture

Site overview

In 1967, a fire destroyed most of the original 1867 gothic revival church by William Ware and Henry Van Brunt. The congregation considered proposals from Marcel Breuer, Joseph Schiffer, Joseph Eldridge, and Paul Rudolph. They voted in favor of Rudolph’s design, which incorporated “the remains of the local ‘puddingstone’ tower, steeple and facade of the original 1868 building to serve as the East walls of the new building. The charred wood frame of the original rose window opening is left to serve as a reminder of the 1968 fire.” (Paul Ruolph Institute for Modern Architecture) Rudolph’s work “successfully married the remaining elements of the original building with his lower vertically ribbed ‘corduroy’ concrete structure and added a small external amphitheater and a preschool to the sanctuary.” (SAH Archipedia)

First Church Boston

Interior of the First Church in Boston by Paul Rudolph. Photo taked 2019.

Credit

© The Estate of Paul Rudolph, The Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture

Site overview

In 1967, a fire destroyed most of the original 1867 gothic revival church by William Ware and Henry Van Brunt. The congregation considered proposals from Marcel Breuer, Joseph Schiffer, Joseph Eldridge, and Paul Rudolph. They voted in favor of Rudolph’s design, which incorporated “the remains of the local ‘puddingstone’ tower, steeple and facade of the original 1868 building to serve as the East walls of the new building. The charred wood frame of the original rose window opening is left to serve as a reminder of the 1968 fire.” (Paul Ruolph Institute for Modern Architecture) Rudolph’s work “successfully married the remaining elements of the original building with his lower vertically ribbed ‘corduroy’ concrete structure and added a small external amphitheater and a preschool to the sanctuary.” (SAH Archipedia)

First Church Boston

First Church Boston interior

Credit

© The Estate of Paul Rudolph, The Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture

Site overview

In 1967, a fire destroyed most of the original 1867 gothic revival church by William Ware and Henry Van Brunt. The congregation considered proposals from Marcel Breuer, Joseph Schiffer, Joseph Eldridge, and Paul Rudolph. They voted in favor of Rudolph’s design, which incorporated “the remains of the local ‘puddingstone’ tower, steeple and facade of the original 1868 building to serve as the East walls of the new building. The charred wood frame of the original rose window opening is left to serve as a reminder of the 1968 fire.” (Paul Ruolph Institute for Modern Architecture) Rudolph’s work “successfully married the remaining elements of the original building with his lower vertically ribbed ‘corduroy’ concrete structure and added a small external amphitheater and a preschool to the sanctuary.” (SAH Archipedia)

How to Visit

Contact the church to schedule a visit.

Location

First Church Boston

66 Marlborough Street
Boston, MA, 02116
More visitation information
Credit:

Backbayhouses.org

Rendering of an early scheme for the new church interior by Paul Rudolph.

Credit:

© The Estate of Paul Rudolph, The Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture

Interior of the First Church in Boston by Paul Rudolph. Photo taked 2019.

Credit:

© The Estate of Paul Rudolph, The Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture

First Church Boston interior

Credit:

© The Estate of Paul Rudolph, The Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture

Designer(s)

Paul Rudolph

Architect

Paul M. Rudolph (1918-1997) was born a minister’s son in Elkton, Kentucky.

Inspired by architecture at an early age, Rudolph studied architecture as an undergraduate at Alabama Polytechnic (now Auburn University), and after a brief period in the Navy during WWII, he successfully completed graduate studies at Harvard under Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius.

Rudolph was a pioneering architect in Sarasota, Florida, a major figure of the ‘Sarasota School of Architecture,' which gained international attention for innovative solutions to the modern American home.

He was Dean of the Yale School of Architecture from 1958-1965, during which his best known work, the Yale Art & Architecture Building, was completed and became both a Modernist icon and a topic of controversy.

After his tenure at Yale, Rudolph continued during the next 30 years to create some of Modernism's most unique and powerful architecture.

Despite the wane in Rudolph’s popularity during the dominance of Post-Modernism in the late 70’s and 80’s, his work and legacy has had a profound impact on the architecture of our era.

Rudolph, who is today considered one of America’s great Late Modernist architects, was an inspirational mentor to those whom he taught. His former students include some of architecture’s most internationally respected architects such as Norman Foster, Richard Rogers, and Robert A.M. Stern, among many others.

Nationality

American

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