Old South Church

The Herald reports on an upcoming vote by the church congregation on whether to sell one of its two copies of the Bay Psalm Book - which could fetch up to $20 million - and a silver collection that includes a Paul Revere chalice. Supporters say the money would help pay for church repairs and work among the homeless.

Old South tower reconstruction, 1937.

By 1932, the tower at what was then called New Old South Church in Copley Square was leaning so much the church had to tear it down for fear it would topple over. Construction began in 1937 on a replica replacement that, so far, has not become a leaning tower of Boston atop the original 1875 church.

Leslie Jones photographed both the demolition of the old tower and the construction of the new one - here in a shot from the Lenox Hotel. More photos, in the BPL's Boston churches collection.

Posted under this Creative Commons license.

Michael Paulson reports that Old South Church is readying its huge organ for a performance on Saturday - its first since December, when the church stopped using it for fears its booming sound could further damage a wall cracked by construction of an elevator shaft at the Copley Square T stop. Paulson's post has some cool video and photos of the organ being tuned.

Although the afternoon performance is still canceled, the evening performance at the Church with the Giant Crack will go on, but with a piano, not the organ, FirstNight tweets.

Since the organ can't be used thanks to the crack caused by an MBTA elevator contractor (yes, that crack). Via FirstNight tweet.

Michael Paulson reports on a wedding yesterday at the now cracked Old South Church - it went just fine, only with a piano instead of an organ (since the organ might have caused plaster to fall on people's heads).

Paulsen also provides a copy of an e-mail message from Rev. Nancy Taylor on short-term fixes and more permanent solutions, all of which will be paid for by the MBTA (including the hiring of organ and stained-glass consultants).

Earlier:
The breaking news at Old South.

The Outraged Liberal hopes the T uses its time-out on the Copley project to consider whether similar work at Arlington should be modified to protect the Arlington Street Church.

Earlier:
Breaking news at Old South.

Alecia Batson reports on a crack that starts at the foundation, goes at least 30 feet up and is large enough at some points to put your hand in. And it's on the Dartmouth Street side, right where the MBTA is doing its never-ending Copley work, which is why she's written an open letter to the T (speaking for herself, not the church) asking what it's going to do about it:

... The organ should not be played, now, as it could prompt large portions of the plaster to fall. This directly affects the Boston Secession concert that will take place there tomorrow evening, Friday, 5 December 2008, as the concert makes use of the organ. Will my friends' concert take place? We do not yet know. Tomorrow, structural engineers will determine if the sanctuary is even safe for habitation. Will church services take place this coming Sunday? Only time will tell. ...

Lyss, who spotted the sign today, captioned her photo "Super Sunday."

Old South Church has started posting MP3s of its Sunday sermons. Tim, a cutting-edge member of the congregation, has created a podcast feed for them.