Old North Church

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

The oldest church in Boston opened in 1723 and remains a shining symbol of American independence.. The Background
On the night of April 18, 1775, two lanterns were hung briefly in the church's steeple to warn that the British were moving by sea, but those few moments secured the church its place in history. The nervous sexton, fearful of discovery, slipped out through a back window as Paul Revere and others proceeded to alert the countryside. Two months later, British general Thomas Gage watched the Battle of Bunker Hill from the same vantage point. A man named John Childs reportedly flew from it in a rudimentary glider on Sept. 13, 1757.

Facts
The four cherubs flanking the church's organ were stolen from a French ship by one of the local privateers who comprised an important branch of the economy. The 16th-century statue of the Virgin Mary was likewise stolen at sea from the prow of a Portuguese vessel.

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xerxes151

Joined 11 years ago

History at its Best. A great place to drop in on while having lunch in the North End. Heard a volunteer's recounting of the Church's history which was quite interesting. Best of all it is Free!