Rescued from urban renewal in the 1950s because of its importance to the West End Roman Catholic community, the church was originally erected in 1834. Designed by renowned architect Alexander Parris for a cost of $34,000, it was built to serve the twelfth Unitarian Universalist Congregation and called “the most elegant church in Boston” after its completion. As the community in the West End changed, the Roman Catholic Diocese purchased the church in 1862 for its growing population.
