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Widely known as the church of ?firsts?, the Park Street Church is one of the 16 historic stops on Boston?s Freedom Trail. Founded on February 27, 1809 by twenty-six local people, many of whom are former members of the Old South Meeting House, it is an active church run by the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference (a Protestant Christian denomination operating in the United States) situated at the corner of Tremont Street and Park Street and is adjacent to the historic Granary Burying Ground.

The church?s design inspiration was taken from several early pattern books and is comparable to a London church. Ascending to 217 feet high, the Park Street Church's steeple has been a noticeable landmark from several Boston neighborhoods. The tower is perceived as the boundary mark of both Columbus Avenue and Tremont Street, two of Boston's circular avenues.

Among the notable list of ?firsts? that occurred in the church are the founding of The Handel and Haydn Society of Boston in 1815, America?s first oratorio society; the start of one of America?s first Sunday school programs in 1816; the sending of the first Protestant missionaries to Hawaii from here in 1819; William Lloyd Garrison, a famous abolitionist, delivered his first anti-slavery address from the Park Street Church pulpit, on July 4, 1829; and the hymn ?America? (otherwise known as ?My Country ?Tis of Thee?), by Samuel Francis Smith, was first sung on the front steps of the church by Park Street?s Children?s Choir on July 4, 1831.

It is also noteworthy to mention that the Prison Discipline Society (America?s first prison ministry), the American Temperance Society, the Animal Rescue League (America?s first animal humane society), and the Boston Chapter of the N.A.A.C.P. all originated in the Park Street Church. America?s longest operating radio ministry began at Park Street Church in 1923 and the Billy Graham evangelistic transcontinental crusades were introduced to Boston at the church in 1949.

The Park Street Church, for more than 200 years, has been known for its involvement in political, social and humanitarian issues. Today, the church continues to uphold its doctrine and is still engaged in current social issues. Included in its many recent contributions to the society of Boston are its help in launching Boston Trinity Academy in Hyde Park in 2002, it organizes many English as a Second Language programs during the week to educate international students as well as immigrants, its ministries that offer support to the homeless, its partnership with Daybreak Pregnancy Resource Center and A Woman's Concern to extend assistance to women dealing with unplanned pregnancy, and the church recently sponsored a $200,000 contest for social change.
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