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A Brief History of Church of the Redeemer

In 1885, a few Chestnut Hill families who desired Episcopal services gathered in the Lee Chapel, now part of the Chestnut Hill School.  These families formally organized The St. Andrews Association thus creating by-laws and paving the way to elect a Minister-in-Charge.

In 1890, Katherine B. Lowell (Mrs. Augustus) offered a gift of land and the funds needed to build a church to be known as the Church of the Redeemer. This first Redeemer building was a wooden structure which used an open meeting house plan, seating 200, covered with shingles and capped by a spire.  It sat in front of what is now called the Old Parish house.  In 1907, the Senior Warden deeded to the church the land on which a new church would be built within twenty years.  In 1911, the fourth Rector and the Senior Warden convinced the Vestry it was now time to build a larger church.

In 1913, the Building Committee selected the plans of the notable Henry Vaughan for the Gothic-style stone Church.  The congregation agreed and by May of 1915, the consecration of the Church we know today took place.  The dedication of the Victory Tower followed in 1920 and the Tower Bell was dedicated in 1940.

Additional land was purchased behind the church in 1951.  A barn was torn down and a parking lot and passageway were created between Hammond Street and Suffolk Road.  The groundbreaking for Weld House, Phase 1 took place in May.  In 1962, Weld House was enlarged and the new Parish Hall was built.

In the beginning, Redeemer’s life was initiated by a small group of committee laypersons, not by the diocese.  These families wanted a place for worship and came together to receive the grace and strength of God, first in Lee Chapel, then a wooden church, then in our beautiful stone church.  Started by a few, nurtured by many hundreds of families, we are blessed.

379 Hammond Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
tel 617-566-7679, office@redeemerchestnuthill.org