Old North Church Lantern Service 2026

Fri, April 17, 2026 — 7:00 PM

Tickets

Beacon Sponsor

$250.00
(+11.84 fee)

Reserved first-floor center box pew seating near front
Names included in program
5:30 p.m. intimate pre-service reception with Bishops Budde and Whitworth, and Vicar Cadwell.

Lantern Sponsor

$125.00
(+6.18 fee)

Resrved first floor seating in center box pews
Names included in program.

Signal Supporter

$50.00
(+2.78 fee)

Seating in box pews on side aisles and upstairs galleries.
Note that gallery seating access requires climbing narrow spiral stairs.

Community Seating, donate as you can

Donate as you are able.
Includes general seating on side aisles and galleries.
Note that gallery access requires climbing narrow spiral stairs.

Delivery method

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Support the Old North Church

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Location

Old North Church

193 Salem Street
Boston, Massachusetts, 02113

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About this event

The Old North Church is offering a traditional Lantern Service on Friday, April 17, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. in honor of the "two if by sea" lantern signal from the church's steeple on the eve of the American Revolution and 250th anniversary of American independence.

Our keynote speaker will be The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Episcopal Bishop of Washington (DC).

Organized Old North's clergy and congregation, the ceremony will recall the lights of liberty that shone on April 18, 1775, while reflecting on the meaning of faith, freedom, and American democracy today. Inspirational music, Paul Revere's own recollection of his historic ride and Old North's signal lights, Bishop Budde's address, and prayers for our nation will lead us into America's Semiquincentennial. As always, the service will culminate with the lighting of the church's historic lanterns.

Seating options in historic box pews range from donate-as-you-are-able community seating on the main floor and galleries to supporting sponsorships in reserved pews and a pre-service reception with Bishop Budde and Bishop Julia Whitworth.

Donations and sponsorships support the ministries of the Old North Church Congregation, Boston's oldest Episcopal (Anglican) Church and shrine of faith and freedom.

Click "Tickets & Donations" above for all options.

About Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde:

Mariann Edgar Budde is bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington (DC). The first woman elected to this position, Bishop Budde is a passionate believer in the gospel of Jesus and the Episcopal Church's witness. She believes that Jesus calls all who follow him to strive for justice and peace, and to respect the dignity of every human being.

Bishop Budde's sermons have been published in several books and journals. She is author of Gathering Up the Fragments: Preaching as Spiritual Practice (2009); Receiving Jesus: The Way of Love (2019); and How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith (2023), which has been adapted into a young adult book, We Can Be Brave: How We Learn to Be Brave in Life's Decisive Moments (2025), and a picture book for young children, I Can Learn to Be Brave (to be released in July 2026).