Extended History

1862 Apr. 24.
Emmanuel Church consecrated. First building on Newbury Street.

1875
Vestry votes to light Church by electricity.

1904
Dr. Elwood Worcester called as third rector of Emmanuel Church. Working with Dr. Samuel McComb he begins Emmanuel Class for Tuberculosis, which quickly grows into the Emmanuel Movement, a precursor to Alcoholics Anonymous. Their treatment was inspired by their belief "that body and soul together constitute the integrity of human nature."

1915 Apr. 21.
Parishoner Leslie Lindsey married to Stuart Mason. May 1. The newlyweds set sail on the Lusitania from New York to Liverpool. May 7. Lusitania sunk by German U-boat.

1924 Oct. 1.
Lindsey Chapel, a memorial and gift of Leslie Lindsey’s parents, consecrated.

1970
Emmanuel Music founded by Craig Smith. Dedicated to presenting Bach’s cantatas in the setting of the service.

1981
First same sex commitment ceremony celebrated at Emmanuel Church.

2004
Vestry approves Resolution of Support for Same Sex Marriage.

2005
Boston Jewish Spirit becomes synagogue in residence at Emmanuel Church; Rabbi Howard Berman becomes Rabbi-in-Residence.

2007
After a year of study and dialogue, Emmanuel Center is founded by Emmanuel Church and Boston Jewish Spirit.

2007
Boston Jewish Spirit receives the long-term loan of a Torah, and dedicates its Ark of the Covenant. The Ark is placed in the sanctuary of the church.

2008
After one hundred years, Emmanuel’s Land Window, designed by Fredrick Crowninshield, is restored and rededicated.

Future Vision

Currently, all personnel at Emmanuel Center are gifted—but busy—volunteers. Within three years, we will hire staff to broaden our reach into the community and to continue and expand upon our programs.

Our longer-term dream is the redevelopment of part of the structure at 15 Newbury. We envision a redesign of the main sanctuary to be a sacred space of worship for both Christian and Jewish congregations, and an (even more) wonderful performance space for music, dance and other arts groups.

Interfaith

The special relationship between Emmanuel Church and Boston Jewish Spirit reflects a shared commitment that is at the heart of the mission of the Emmanuel Center. Both of our congregations, deeply and faithfully rooted in our respective religious traditions, also believe passionately that we share a common spiritual heritage, and that we cherish the same ultimate hopes and dreams for humanity. We believe that the encounter between Judaism and Christianity can be a vital, loving and living one that affirms the difficult challenges of history and offers new levels of understanding.