Above: The West Roxbury Congregational Church at the corner of Centre and Mt. Vernon streets which burned down in 1973.

Church > Our History

A Tale of Two Pasts

  1. The Stratford Street Baptist Church, began in 1904, at the home of Harry Thompson. The group searched for a location to build their church and they chose the corner of Anawan Street and Stratford Street and plans for the building were finalized in 1907. Designed in the english country church style by Calvin Kiessling, the Boston Daily Globe headlined that the church “Will be an Ornament to The West Roxbury District.” (Boston Daily Globe, Jan 27, 1907) The first corner stone was laid on June 20, 1909 and the church was dedicated March 13, 1910. In 1954, the addition of Memorial Hall was celebrated allowing for greater service to the community.
  2. The West Roxbury Congregational Church, founded in 1891, chose the site of the Old South Evangelical Church (c. 1835) on the corner of Mount Vernon and Centre Streets. In 1973, tragically, a fire destroyed their building. The Congregational members were warmly welcomed to worship with the Stratford Street Baptist Church. Faced with the challenges of re-building the church, the two congregations entered into talks to unite the two churches.

From The Ashes

As a lasting community gift, in 1977, the members of The West Roxbury Congregational Church deeded the land on which their church had stood to the Trustees of the Boston Public Library for a new addition to the West Roxbury Branch.

​​The Stratford Street United Church

In 1977, the two congregations became one with the adoption of our name, The Stratford Street United Church. We have become a vibrant church that serves the local area through mission (food pantry and others), outreach, and community programs. Additionally we enthusiastically share our church home with the congregation of Iglesia Cristiana "Nueva Vida" (IENV) and the Boston Church of Christ (BCC) along with many others who rent space within the church to offer various programs and activities for the greater West Roxbury community. If you are interesting in renting space for a single event or for a series of events, please visit the Rent Church Space page.