Boston's current Old West Church is a building that was constructed in 1806, not long after the American Revolution. However, there was a church in the same spot -- 131 Cambridge St. in Boston -- before and at the beginning of the American Revolution. The original Old West Church was built in 1737. When the British presence in Boston became severe, the soldiers took over the church and used it as living quarters. They also destroyed it in 1775, which is why the original structure had to be replaced.
The reason the British destroyed the original Old West Church is that they thought the steeple was or would be used to signal rebels. This was somewhat a legitimate fear. The congregation and pastors of the Old West Church were not supporters of the British cause. Furthermore, they had a good location for signaling Cambridge. Nonetheless, they likely did no such thing. The church that actually did -- the Old North Church -- ironically escaped that fate, despite being the very church that signaled men to prepare for the first battle of the American Revolution. Of course, at the time, they had no idea a battle would ensue.
The Old West Church was not without its own claim to revolutionary fame. It was not so much the structure itself that was an integral part of the rebellion. It was the people associated with the church that would go down in history. The first minister of the church was William Hooper. The next minister was Jonathan Mayhew. He took the job in 1747. Mayhew and his successor Simeon Howard were the rebellious pastors who put the Old West Church on history's map.
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