King's Chapel

King’s Chapel is a historic church located on Tremont Street facing Boston Common in central Boston, Massachusetts. The present stone building was constructed in the mid-18th century and is a noted example of colonial Georgian ecclesiastical architecture.

The interior preserves original-era box pews and period fittings typical of mid-18th century Protestant churches in New England. The church sits immediately beside the King’s Chapel Burying Ground, which contains gravestones for many of Boston’s early settlers.

The congregation was founded in the late 17th century as an Anglican parish, and the current masonry church replaced an earlier wooden chapel. Over time the congregation’s practices and theology evolved, while the building itself has been preserved as a historic landmark and active place of worship.

King’s Chapel stands in Boston’s downtown at the edge of the Boston Common, within easy walking distance of the city’s historic Freedom Trail and other central sites.

• Architect and date: The current masonry building was constructed between 1749 and 1754 and was designed by architect Peter Harrison, a leading colonial-era architect.
• Historic cemetery: The adjacent burying ground, established in the 1630s, is directly beside the church and is one of the oldest historic graveyards in Boston.

What to See #

• King's Chapel Burying Ground: Founded in the 1630s, it is Boston's oldest burying ground and contains gravestones and markers for many of the city's early settlers and leaders.
• Sanctuary and interior: The church building's stone structure was constructed in the mid-18th century and contains original box pews and period interior fittings associated with Georgian ecclesiastical design.