KING'S CHAPEL
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The Stranger's Tomb

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The largest tomb, separate from the others, was for the chapel’s use. Boston churches helped the city with charitable burials of almshouse residents, the unclaimed, travelers, sailors, etc.  Thus, this tomb was called the Strangers’ Tomb because the buried were strangers to the church or community.  It also may have served the purpose of a charnel pit, an enclosure traditionally used to hold remains emptied from elsewhere, or otherwise requiring “storage” or temporary burial. There appear to be 30-50 people in the Strangers’ Tomb, many without names or personal details in the chapel records. Although there are some coffins, some remains are without coffins, and skeletons have collapsed and mingled over time. Left undisturbed, they cannot be counted.

It is also the burial place of the Chevalier de Saint-Sauveur, a French nobleman whose ship, as an ally, was being resupplied in Boston Harbor during the American Revolution. Since there was a food shortage, some Bostonians’ frustration flared into a riot, in which the Chevalier was killed. To prevent a diplomatic crisis, Boston agreed to bury him in the King’s Chapel crypt and to provide a rare Roman Catholic funeral at the tomb door. 

The Strangers’ Tomb is the only to be entered after the tombs were bricked up in the 1850s. In 1976, its interior was measured and examined to make sure some HVAC equipment could be safely installed nearby without damaging the tomb. Interior views of this tomb expose its stark contrast to the other, family-owned, ones. The sheer volume of remains, the absence of coffins,  and the disarray as time took its toll make this tomb space unique in the crypt.
​

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Return to "Crypt" page.
King's Chapel
Est. 1686
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 www.kings-chapel.org |  58 Tremont St. Boston, MA 02108  |  617-227-2155 
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  • Home
    • About Us >
      • Welcome
      • Calendar
      • Clergy & Staff
      • Contact Us & Directions >
        • Send A Message
      • Employment Opportunities >
        • Pianist/ Music Leader
        • Verger Position
  • Worship
    • Holy Week 2022
    • Sunday at 9 AM
    • Sunday at 11 AM
    • Lent 2022
    • Sermons
    • Special Annual Services
    • Book of Common Prayer
  • Music
    • Tuesday Recitals
    • Concert Series
    • Musical Inquiries
  • History & Tours
    • Plan Your Visit >
      • 2023 At A Glance
      • Guided Tour Offerings >
        • Group Tours
    • Explore Our History >
      • A Brief History
      • The Stone Chapel: Art & Architecture >
        • The Wooden Chapel
        • Georgian Architecture
        • Box Pews
        • Interior Colors
        • Memorials
        • The Chancel Windows
        • The Last Supper Painting
      • Crypt and Burying Ground >
        • Crypt >
          • Crypt Highlights: Crypt Entrance
          • Crypt Highlights: Tomb Structure
          • Crypt Highlights: The Stranger's Tomb
          • Crypt Highlights: Research and Family Connections
          • Crypt Highlights: Remaining Memorials
          • Crypt Highlights: Hand-Hewn Beams
        • Burying Ground
      • Religious History >
        • Online Exhibit: Independent Country, Independent Church
        • 334 Years of Ministry
      • Slavery at King's Chapel
    • Online Exhibits >
      • Revolutionary King's Chapel: Online Exhibit
      • Literary King's Chapel
      • Uncovering the Past: Exploring Black History Through Primary Sources
    • History Events & Programs >
      • Past Events & Programs
      • Recorded History Programs
    • Christmas History at King's Chapel >
      • Decking the Halls: The History of Decorating with Greens
      • Christmas Lights: Then and Now
      • 18th & 19th Century Christmas Services & Music
      • Christmas Feasts & Treats Throughout History
      • Holiday History Trivia
    • History Program Blog
    • About Us >
      • History Program Staff
      • Contact Us
    • Support the History Program
  • Community
    • News & Updates >
      • Parish Community News
    • Community from Home
    • Community Action Committee >
      • Anti-Racism Resources
    • Memorial to Enslaved Persons
    • Environmental Action Initiative
    • Join King's Chapel
    • For Members >
      • Budget Meeting 2023
      • Partner Church Sunday 2022
      • KC Bylaws
      • 2022- 2023 Church Leadership
  • Giving
    • Why Give
    • Ways to Give
    • Stewardship >
      • Pledge
  • Weddings & Baptisms
    • Weddings >
      • Dear Prospective Couple
      • Wedding Inquiry
      • Wedding Service
    • Baptisms
  • Space Rentals