An illustrated historical account of West Roxbury by Boston historian Anthony Sammarco is the first of several free public events scheduled this year at Theodore Parker Church in West Roxbury in celebration of its 300th anniversary.
Mr. Sammarco, author of 60 pictorial histories of Boston and its neighborhoods, will give his presentation at 2 pm Sunday, Jan. 22, in the church sanctuary at 1859 Center St. in West Roxbury. The lecture will be followed by refreshments in the adjacent parish hall.
The church is the direct descendant of a Puritan church founded in 1712 as the Second Church of Roxbury. That church, built in what is now the Arnold Arboretum, was later replaced by a larger building on Church Street and eventually moved to its current location at Corey and Centre streets. Over the centuries it has evolved into the more theologically liberal Unitarian Universalist church that it is today.
Other events marking the church’s tercentennial celebration include:
- A lecture by Prof. Dean Grodzins, biographer of Theodore Parker, on the early ministry of that abolitionist and social reformer. Sunday, March 25, at 2 pm in the sanctuary.
- An illustrated talk by Mary Ann Millsap on the church’s colonial-era silver collection, now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts. Sunday, May 6, at 2 pm in the sanctuary.
- A presentation and book discussion by author Tony Williams about his book, The Pox and the Covenant, which the congregation will be reading this summer. Sunday, Sept. 16, at 10:30 am in the sanctuary.
- An exploration of the various styles of worship and music experienced by previous congregations, led by three former ministers and several former interns. Sunday, Nov. 4, at 2 pm in the sanctuary.