Tremont Temple was formed in 1839 under the name The Free Baptist Church. Timothy Gilbert, a piano maker in Boston, resigned his membership at Charles Street Baptist Church when the congregation disapproved of him inviting a black family into his pew stall at Sunday worship. The church met at several locations until 1843, when Gilbert purchased the Tremont Theater for $55,000 of his own money, which is the location at which our church currently meets. Tremont Temple is famous for being the first integrated church in America, since the church from its inception offered open attendance without charge, which fostered a church community that embraced racial diversity. While primarily dedicated as a place of worship, the Temple’s versatile halls also hosted an array of public events, such as the unique display of an Egyptian mummy in 1850 and influential speeches against the scourge of slavery by renowned figures like Sam Houston and Frederick Douglass.

The Temple’s journey was not devoid of trials; it endured three significant fires in 1852, 1879, and 1893. Despite these challenges, the Temple persisted, providing spaces that accommodated professionals from diverse fields, including music instructors, dentists, and esteemed artists like Fitz Henry Lane. Even Charles Dickens graced the stage in 1867 for his inaugural reading of A Christmas Carol in the United States.

Through its evolution under various titles such as Tremont Street Baptist Church and Union Temple Baptist Church, it finally settled as Tremont Temple Baptist Church in 1891. The tenure of Reverend George C. Lorimer ushered in a period of remarkable growth, overseeing both the congregation’s spiritual journey and the construction of a grand, new edifice in 1896. This architectural marvel, an intricate design crafted by the talented Clarence Blackall, ingeniously merged sacred and commercial spaces. By offering business rentals, the Temple has sustained its religious activities while upholding its cherished tradition of providing free seating for worshippers, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ to all.