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Picture19th-century illustration depicting the original King's Chapel
Before the construction of the current stone structure, King’s Chapel was a much smaller, wooden building located on the same site. When the congregation was founded in 1686, it had no permanent home and was relegated to what would become the Old State House by an unwelcoming Puritan populace. The wooden chapel opened to its congregation in 1689, but few written records of its appearance remain. Much of what we know about the wooden chapel comes from visual records, such as drawings and diagrams, that provide more imagery than dimensions.
​

Very few pieces of the wooden chapel are still in their original location. Between 1749 and 1754, the current stone chapel was built around the original wooden chapel, which would have fit between the columns of the Sanctuary, was dismantled and removed from inside. The materials from the wooden chapel were used to build another Anglican church: The Church of St. John in Nova Scotia. While St. John has lost much of its structure over time due to renovation and disaster, much can be learned about the wooden chapel by studying how it was rebuilt as another church.

Altarpieces

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While the wooden chapel itself is no longer in Boston, some of its elements remain in the stone chapel. The panels that make up the altarpieces are the oldest items in the entire chapel, dating back to 1696. They contain the text of the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Apostle’s Creed. The Reverend Samuel Myles, the second minister of King’s Chapel, received the painted wood altarpieces and other gifts from King William. Pieces like these symbolized a strong endorsement from the crown upon the church.

The words on the panels feature what is called the “long s”, the old-fashioned letter “s” that looks like a lowercase “f”. It grew out of how Romans wrote the cursive lowercase s and was picked up by other European languages over time. Although it looks odd today to see “treſſpaſſes” in the Lord’s Prayer, it did not change the pronunciation. It was part of the English printing and handwriting style until the 19th century and is visible in several places in the chapel.

The Pulpit

PictureKing's Chapel pulpit, photographed by Sarah Farkas in 2019
Another element retained from the wooden chapel is the pulpit, which dates to 1717.

It is the oldest continuously used wooden pulpit at its original site in the United States at over 300 years old. Confirming that it predates the stone building, the earliest paint layers on the pulpit are older than that of the rest of the chapel, and was moved from the corner to its current location when the building was reconstructed. When it moved, decorative back panels and an acoustic sounding board were added and the pulpit was placed on a free-standing “wine glass” stand.

Ministers still ascend to the highest level during Sunday worship to deliver their sermons. 

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King's Chapel
Est. 1686
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​and the service of all​.
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 www.kings-chapel.org |  58 Tremont St. Boston, MA 02108  |  617-227-2155 
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  • King's Chapel from Home
    • January Environmental Compassion Month
    • Worship from Home >
      • Past Virtual Services
    • Music from Home
    • History from Home
    • Community from Home >
      • Voter Action Initiative
      • Anti-Racism Resources
    • Stewardship & Giving
  • About Us
    • Welcome
    • Calendar
    • News & Updates >
      • Weekly Newsletter
      • Messages from the Ministers
      • King's Chapel Updates
    • Clergy & Staff
    • Contact Us & Directions >
      • Send A Message
  • Worship
    • What to Expect
    • Sunday at 9 AM
    • Sunday at 11 AM
    • Wednesday at 5:30 PM
    • Sermons
    • Special Annual Services
    • Book of Common Prayer
  • Music
    • Virtual Musical Events
    • From The Bench: A Musical Blog
    • Tuesday Recitals
    • Concert Series
  • History & 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
      • Literary King's Chapel: Online Exhibit
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Virtual History Events & Programs >
      • Recorded History Programs
      • Past Events & Programs
    • History Program Blog
    • About Us >
      • History Program Staff
      • Contact Us
    • Support the History Program
  • Get Involved
    • Adult Education
    • Children & Youth
    • Serve the Church
    • Serve the World
    • Make a Gift
    • Join King's Chapel
    • Ways To Support Our Partners
  • Weddings & Baptisms
    • Weddings >
      • Dear Prospective Couple
      • Wedding Inquiry
      • Wedding Service
    • Baptisms
  • Space Rentals
  • For Members
    • KC Bylaws
    • 2020 - 2021 Church Leadership
    • Environmental Action Initiative Meeting Minutes
    • 2020 Annual Meeting Recording
    • Annual Meeting Materials 2020
    • 2021 Budget
  • Leadership Retreat Materials 2020