A multi-year restoration project at the Second Church of Dorchester in Codman Square continues to make progress this season as final plans are in the works for replacing the structure’s 218-year-old steeple, which was removed for repairs in April 2023.

While the steeple project is the high-profile update to the landmark building, there are many other improvements and changes underway closer to the ground level that church leaders say are just as important to the worship space’s future.

“It has been in the community as a cornerstone since 1806,” said Rev. Victor A. Price, the lead pastor at the Church of the Nazarene, one of five congregations that use the worship space. “It’s a meeting house where you have the meeting of minds, the meeting of culture.”

The church and attached Meeting House on Washington Street were built to meet the demand of a growing town population that needed more space and amenities beyond what was available at the original church— First Parish on Meeting House Hill. Today, it’s is the oldest wooden church structure in the city of Boston that hosts active congregations. (First Parish Church dates to 1816. It was built to replace an earlier structure that was destroyed by fire.)

“Originally, you could only live a half mile from the first church but when the community grew it was not sufficient. They decided to do a second church,” said Price.

Rev. John Codman—Codman Square’s namesake — was ordained as the first minister at Second Church. During his leadership, churchgoers included John Adams and Daniel Webster.

Inside the church tower, which overlooks Washington Street, there hangs a bell cast by Paul Revere & Sons. Just below, is a clock donated by Colonel William Baker.

Today’s Second Church is what Prince calls an “incubator of churches,” as it houses several congregations.

Price and Saranya Sathananthan of the Emmanuel Gospel Center, which also worships and meets at the church, have teamed up with the Boston Society for Architecture (BSA) to activate underutilized spaces in the building while trying to maintain its historic character. 

“You want to be able to recognize and acknowledge the history and where we are in relation to that history but also make room for people to feel like this space is now their home,” said Sathananthan. 

She added: “BSA helps us really imagine the Meeting House as a whole entity and how different spaces in the building connect with each other.”

When weather permits, services are often held in the unheated sanctuary. A beautiful lectern can be found at the front of this room, but just to the side sits the original pulpit and chair once occupied by Rev. Codman. Sermons can be heard throughout the room and from the upper balcony, where additional seating is offered for larger services.

Though the room glistens with natural light and echoes with the sounds of a pipe organ, the space is not very versatile because the original pews were built into the floor. 

“The sanctuary space has all the original pews in it so it really limits what we can use that space for. I have gotten a chance to connect with church leaders all over Boston and a lot of churches have moved to removing the pews so they can transform the space,” Sathananthan told The Reporter. 

Now, she and Price have a tough decision to make. “Do we keep the pews and limit how we use the room because of the history and what it means to people to come in and sit where hundreds and thousands of people have sat and prayed and worshipped,” Sathananthan said. “Or do we remove that and see what new things can happen?”

Ben Peterson, director of community and collaborative design for BSA, said the decision is one that he, too, struggles with since, he says, “the memory of places is tied considerably to the materials. There are memories in this place that exist far beyond myself but resonate with community members and neighbors in ways I don’t fully understand,” said Peterson. “The ability to reinvigorate the architecture as a hub of civic life requires an acknowledgment of that.”

While a decision regarding the pews is yet to be made, other key renovations have already begun. Just steps away from the sanctuary, an underutilized prayer room is being transformed into an indoor greenspace.

“We had numerous conversations with different people in the community about what kind of space they would want,” said Sathananthan. “We’re converting this prayer room into what we’re calling the Oasis Community Room. It’s going to be filled with lots of plants and cozy furniture.”

Sathananthan hopes this room can be where people visit throughout the day. Here, community members can sit and read a book, drink a coffee and chat, or do some work while surrounded by plants. 

While changes on this first floor are evident, things are happening on the bottom and top floors as well. The only issue is these spaces are not handicap accessible, something Meeting House staff and BSA members hope to change.

“There are some issues of accessibility and structural issues that were identified,” said Peterson. “Beyond just thinking about what’s happening in spaces, we’ve been able to help the Meeting House [staff] understand the infrastructure as a whole. What is possible and what is impossible.”

The architects have not come up with an accessibility solution but are still working on feasible tasks, such as refurbishing several spaces in the basement. Here, visitors will discover a media studio with a white infinity wall as well as a sound booth and editing equipment.

“If young people in our community are going into production or presentation of their own music or skills, we can use it to train them,” said Price. 
The studio is next to a spacious, multipurpose auditorium. Price said in an ideal world, community members would be able create content in the media studio and then share their work with neighbors in the auditorium. 

Around the corner from the auditorium is a recently gutted kitchen.

“We’re looking to develop that space hopefully with someone interested in running or operating a commercial kitchen that would benefit food entrepreneurs and offer cooking classes and training,” said Sathananthan. 

With an up-and-running kitchen, the building could be a great site for events like weddings or post-funeral gatherings. Price suggested a couple could get married in the sanctuary, host their reception downstairs in the auditorium, and serve food from the on-site kitchen. 

While the lower levels of the Meeting House feel like a world of its own, upstairs is home to the Emmanuel Gospel Center, where Sathananthan is a researcher in residence, and the Enrichment Center.

The other spaces are multipurpose rooms that Price, Sathananthan, and Peterson will transform to reflect the community’s wishes. 

“I think that’s the dynamic nature of life and spaces in general. If you look at real estate how many storefronts change pretty often, why can’t church spaces do that and meet a community need,” asked Sathananthan.