Paul's House Diary

Today’s photo is a detail of the Steeple of the Arlington Street Church. The church is made of delicious Roxbury Puddingstone (my favorite local building material solely for its’ name) in 1861 and was the Back Bay’s “first public building” according to the church website. The church and the stretch of Boylston alongside it have undergone stunning renovation in recent years, including the addition of a modern head-house for the Arlington stop on the Green Line.

I especially like the steeple. The overall layout and design of the church reflects the schemes of traditional colonial  churches in the older parts of the city, but it isn’t made of brick and white-washed timber. It has the steeple front and center above the entranceway, in this case outfitted with a Greek-style pediment and column’s to provide a base. It’s not unlike the Park Street Church across the Garden and Commons in its form, but it harkens to the brownstone character of the Back Bay with only a nod to the colonial Boston of Beacon Hill.

I shot it with my Cybershot walking the long way home from class yesterday afternoon. I was only barely freezing when I got to Copley from the Walker building, which means the thaw may finally be upon us. Cross your fingers!