Christ Church aka Old North Church - Anglican - Mather Byles Jr and the Two Lantern Signal

193 Salem St

Built in 1723 it is the oldest surviving church building in Boston. It was Anglican or an official Church of England rather than Congregational or Puritan. It’s members were known as the most revolutionary Anglicans north of Maryland. While they shared religious beliefs with their pastor, his congregation differed politically. They supported separation where Mather Byles Jr, like his Puritan father Mather Byles Sr (See Hollis St Church), supported the crown. There was a meeting about this difference of political beliefs on April 18, 1775 and at the end of which Byles handed over his keys.

This was fortuitus to Americans for both the time and location combined was important. Only a few hours later that same day when the British were spotted setting out for Lexington Concord. one of the church proprietors, vestryman Captain John Pulling, Jr. returned to the church with Robert Newman, the church sexton, to hang two lanterns in the church steeple. The famous “one if by land, two if by sea” signaled that the British would be rowed across Boston harbor (now Back Bay) instead of marching out over the neck. That signal was only for a few seconds but had been prepared will in advance. (See Paul Revere Statue for details on that signal and ride) The bell tower was the tallest structure in the town of Boston at the time and conveniently close to the Charlestown coastline making it the ideal location to send a signal across the harbor.

As for the Former pastor, On March 17, 1776, Rev. Byles Jr and his family sailed from Boston to New Brunswick, along with the remaining Anglican clergy in Boston, all British troops, and many British loyalists. They hurriedly abandoned their home in the North End and left much of their property to whatever fate their neighbors chose. He left behind his sisters and father who refused to move despite the banishment order. The Banishment Act of 1778 names Mather Byles, Jr. as a person forbidden to return to Massachusetts on pain of death. While he called Halifax “the American Siberia” he coped better than most as he was able to find employment and settle there. His father did not fare nearly so well.

With the Confiscation Act of 1779, his home and belongings were sold at public auction. After the war, he pressed his claims, and those of his father, for compensation before the Royal Commission on the Losses and Services of American Loyalists, itemizing losses of £800. The Commission gave him £120 and paid for his passage back to Nova Scotia. Once his father and sisters passed their belongings were crated and sent to Halifax as they refused to leave anything behind in Boston. The family remailed Loyalists to the end.

What fruitage did these spiritual leaders produce? Mt 7:15-20. Consider John 17:16 vs Acts 20:29, 30. What would Jesus have said seeing this?

-Source Links-

https://www.oldnorth.com/virtual-360-tour/

https://www.oldnorth.com/story-of-the-steeples/

http://commonplace.online/article/a-loyalist-guarded-re-guarded-and-disregarded/