Arlington Street Church
Arlington Street Church
4.5
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The area
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Neighbourhood: Back Bay
Wander around this quintessential neighborhood in the heart of Boston for high-end shops, restaurants, and the feeling of city bustle. Its most identifiable skyscrapers, the Prudential Center and John Hancock Tower, are highlights of the city skyline. Visit Newbury street to explore unique and trendy boutiques – as well as every other kind of store imaginable – all housed in beautiful brownstone buildings. In nice weather, restaurant patio seating is packed with Bostonians and tourists alike soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the food. Commonwealth Ave offers a beautiful stroll down residential tree-lined streets. Keep walking towards the Charles River and enjoy a beautiful view by the water. In warmer months, people run and bike on paths running along the esplanade, and sail and kayak on the Charles River. Boylston street, also full of shops, bars, and restaurants, is the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Head towards Copley Square and check out the Boston Public Library, which is particularly beautiful from the Dartmouth street entrance.
How to get there
- Arlington • 1 min walk
- Boylston • 7 min walk
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4.5
45 reviews
Excellent
28
Very good
15
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Grover R
Pensacola, FL22,266 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
Like many of Boston's residents, many of Boston's early churches moved from the historic downtown to the Back Bay area. One of those churches was a Unitarian church formed in 1729 that moved to its present location in 1861. In addition to its beautiful brownstone structure and soaring steeple, its significance is it was the first church to move out of downtown to the Back Bay directly across from the Public Garden. A move soon repeated by many of Boston's oldest congregations across denomination. I was able to see the exterior on my walk to the garden and was moved by the soaring steeple.
Written 16 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda K
Boston, MA87 contributions
Dec 2019
There is something special about Boston on Christmas Eve. The church was lovely. The choir sang beautiful Christmas Carols, along with the audience. The pastor gave a nice sermon/speech and the candlelight part of the service was beautiful. Definitely worth the wait in line.
Written 30 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Diane
Yorkshire, UK19 contributions
Aug 2019 • Couples
5 dollars each entry.
Lovely church and the Tiffany windows are stunning.
All very well kept and all have a description to read if that's your thing.
Worth a look at the windows.
Lovely church and the Tiffany windows are stunning.
All very well kept and all have a description to read if that's your thing.
Worth a look at the windows.
Written 29 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cancunvacation61
Dublin, Ireland38 contributions
July 2018 • Solo
Spent the Day in Boston yesterday (Friday). I was by myself as my husband had to work. So I took a walk. Strolled through the Boston Public Gardens watching all the tourist and locals enjoying a beautiful summer day. I crossed out of the park and on to Arlington Street and Boylston Street. There, in front of the church on the corner, was a sign for the church's tour of their windows. So I walked up the stairs and there in the nave was a table with a young lady sitting behind it. A sign suggesting a $5 donation to see the churches stained glass windows. So I paid the $5. The young lady handed me a "self guided" brochure.
I walked into the seemingly quaint New England Church. But it is not. I was greeted by an Italian Inspired 1861 church with wooden New England Pew Boxes. Tall, corinthian columns holding up the balcony. The organ and organ pipes take up the back of the balcony. The organ, put in in the 1950s has over 3000 pipes, the smallest no bigger than a pencil.
But the thing to see in this church are the WINDOWS!!! 16 beautiful Tiffany Windows. And you can get up and personal with these windows!!!!
This is a must see when visiting Boston. I have lived in the area for over 17 years and I can not believe I have missed this.
I walked into the seemingly quaint New England Church. But it is not. I was greeted by an Italian Inspired 1861 church with wooden New England Pew Boxes. Tall, corinthian columns holding up the balcony. The organ and organ pipes take up the back of the balcony. The organ, put in in the 1950s has over 3000 pipes, the smallest no bigger than a pencil.
But the thing to see in this church are the WINDOWS!!! 16 beautiful Tiffany Windows. And you can get up and personal with these windows!!!!
This is a must see when visiting Boston. I have lived in the area for over 17 years and I can not believe I have missed this.
Written 14 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sam H
New York City, NY31 contributions
Sept 2019 • Family
Really beautiful windows. Scavenger hunt for kids to do. It was a cool and unique church, currently practicing Unitarians.
Written 22 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ISyzigi
New York City, NY149 contributions
June 2019 • Couples
If you are a fan of the visual arts, consider stretching that category a bit to include the stained glass of Louis Comfort Tiffany. This cohesive group of 16 monumental windows designed and executed specifically for this site is an impressive and inspiring sight. Our friendly but not overbearing tour guide (available at the instant we walked in and willing to do a tour just for us) explained and pointed out the various glazing techniques such as: opalescence (overlaying differently colored panes), drapery (varying the thickness of the glass), confetti (impressionistic flecks of color), rippling (like pressing your linens with too hot an iron) to create water effects, and leaving air pockets between layers of glass to let in more natural light for the depiction of those splendid sunsets. This led to a greater appreciation of the skill involved in executing the designs -- which are by Frederick Wilson. If you're not overly religious, as I'm not, these images can still be appreciated for their universal, humanistic values, reminiscent of William Blake. A stellar experience right near Boston Public Gardens, and a worthwhile place to plunk down the small requested donation ($5).
Written 13 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
angmohs
Singapore, Singapore145 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
we stumbled across it too by chance - $5 each for 45 minutes of incredible stained glass. we hadn't seen windows of this size before outside a couple at the met, you can get right up to them and see how they are made and the texture of the glass. also incredible effects of the sun setting using contrasting pieces of glass (I think). guide was also very knowledgable. just go
Written 21 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
waltfromflint
Flint, MI19 contributions
June 2017 • Solo
Happened upon this church while working on fitbit steps. Saw the "Tiffany Window Tour" sign and couldn't resist. Only recently opened to the public, This church sports 16 genuine Tiffany Windows. Five bucks gets a personal tour with knowledgeable guide. I had the place to myself for almost an hour...on a Saturday afternoon! Simply unbelievable. Do not miss.
Written 7 June 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fbc001
NJ193 contributions
June 2017 • Couples
Amazing beauty for fans of .Tiffany glassworks. Guided tours just started in May thru Sept on M-Sat 10-3 for $5 donation.
It's well worth it, as visitors get to see up close and with ample oppor to explore and appreciate the artistry.
Volunteer guide was very friendly and knowledgeable with historic background and glass making info.
Don't miss this hidden gem!
It's well worth it, as visitors get to see up close and with ample oppor to explore and appreciate the artistry.
Volunteer guide was very friendly and knowledgeable with historic background and glass making info.
Don't miss this hidden gem!
Written 3 June 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DunelmArts
Aberdeen, UK1,168 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
Arlington Street Church was built between 1859–1861 on newly filled land in Boston’s Back Bay. It is famous for its glorious Tiffany stained glass windows, believed to be the largest collection of Tiffany windows in any one church. You are free to wander round the church to admire the windows, but a good way to see them is to take a guided tour. Our volunteer guide had retired from the Museum of Fine Arts and really knew her stuff. She brought the windows, their manufacture and stories to life. Wonderful to see the windows with their beautiful opalescent glass up close.
Written 22 October 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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