Overview

First Church Boston is located at 66 Marlborough Street on the corner of Berkeley and Marlborough Streets, a short walk from the Arlington Street or Copley Square T stops on the Green Line. The building is fully handicap accessible with ramps, an elevator, and handicap bathrooms. The lighting in the church is often poor, especially in the evenings with no natural light in the sanctuary. For those with sensory sensitivities, it will be fairly loud at times during our concerts, and possibly before the concert starts depending on how animated the audience is.

Parking and access by MBTA

Limited metered parking is available after 6:00 P.M. The Boston Common garage is located nearby the church and is about a 10-minute walk. If you take the T, the Green Line Copley T stop at Boylston and Dartmouth Streets is a 5-minute walk from the Church. From the T stop, walk on Dartmouth Street three blocks toward the Charles River (away from Copley Square and the Public Library), turn right onto Marlborough Street and continue for two blocks. The church will be on your right.

Accessible entrances

There are two, steeply inclined wheelchair-accessible ramps to access the building, both located on Marlborough Street. The entrance for elevator access to the main area of the church must be accessed via the lower ramp and the small, private parking lot underneath the church. Please call ahead if you anticipate needing access via the elevator to the church.

There is one designated handicap parking space located on Marlborough Street at the bottom of the wheelchair-accessible ramp that goes up to the main sanctuary.

Entrances via steps and walking

Many audience members will likely choose to use the wheel-chair accessible ramp to access the main building, but if you choose, there are a series of uneven and high steps which is part of the outdoor amphitheater on Marlborough Street that can be used to approach the main church building.

Once audience members are through the set of heavy double doors, there is a short walk inside to a public coat rack, handicap accessible restrooms, and the main church sanctuary where the performance is located.

Restrooms

An accessible family bathroom, which comes equipped with wall-mounted bars, and a changing table, is located to the right near the public coat racks and elevator as you come in the main church entrance on Marlborough Street.

There are also men’s and women’s bathrooms located in this same area of the church.

Sanctuary

First Church Boston doesn’t have traditional pew seating. Wheelchair users may speak with ushers about removing the cushioned chairs for access, especially for those audience members who purchased priority seating tickets for the first several rows of seating.

There is also a balcony that can be accessed via the elevator located in the narthex of the church near the public coat racks and restrooms. The seating in the balcony is only accessible on the top level for wheelchair users.

The lighting in the sanctuary is low and may cause difficulty for those who have visual impairments.

Weather conditions

Please check the weather for Boston to determine the current temperature and conditions. The church is always open, regardless of weather, but performances and/or rehearsals might be cancelled, especially in the winter.