Church of the Covenant (Boston)

	Central Congregational Church
	U.S. National Register of Historic Places
	U.S. National Historic Landmark
	U.S. Historic district; Contributing property
	Back Bay Historic District (ID73001948)
NRHP reference No.	12001012
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 17, 2012
Designated NHL	October 17, 2012
Designated CP	August 14, 1973

The Church of the Covenant is a historic church at 67

Congregational Church, and is now affiliated with the Presbyterian Church and the United Church of Christ. The church was designed by Richard M. Upjohn, and its distinctive interior is largely the work of Tiffany & Co.

History

Built of

World's Columbian Exhibition

, Chicago, 1893.

The Church of the Covenant is located at 67 Newbury Street. It was known as the "Central Church" until 1932 when the Central Congregational Church merged with the First Presbyterian Church of Boston creating the Church of the Covenant, which is now affiliated with the Presbyterian Church and the United Church of Christ.^[5]

In 1966, the Back Bay historic district was established, protecting any building within its boundaries from exterior changes, including this church building. In October 2012 the church building was designated a National Historic Landmark (as "Central Congregational Church") in recognition of its unique interior decorations.^[6]

In 1999 The Church of the Covenant was the setting of the opening scene of the movie Boondock Saints. Two deeply Catholic brothers, Connor and Murphy MacManus (played by Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus respectively) show their devotion in church as the priest rails against the passive indifference to evil. Given the nature of the script, there were problems finding a church liberal enough to permit filming inside. The company finally got permission from the Church of the Covenant. This isn’t actually a Catholic church though and that imposing crucifix was built just for the film.^[7]