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The enduring fame of the Old North began on the evening of April 18, 1775, when the church sexton, Robert Newman, climbed the steeple and held high two lanterns as a signal from Paul Revere that the British were marching to Lexington and Concord by sea and not by land. This fateful event ignited the American Revolution.
The Old North Church is officially known as Christ Church in the City of Boston. It was built in 1723, and is the oldest standing church building in Boston. In 1775, on the eve of Revolution, the majority of the congregation were loyal to the British King and many held official positions in the royal government, including the Royal Governor of Massachusetts, making Robert Newman's loyalty to the Patriot cause even more extraordinary. The King gave the Old North's its silver that was used at services and a bible.
Today
the Old North Foundation, a secular, not-for-profit organization, is devoted to the preservation of Old North and to creating educational and interpretive programs for students and visitors. The Foundation has embarked on a master planning process to restore the church and transform the entire campus into an interactive learning environment.
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