Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Meetinghouse
The Gloucester Meetinghouse stands at the corner of Church and Middle Streets in downtown Gloucester. Built in 1806, it is the oldest surviving meetinghouse in the city and the home of the first Universalist congregation in the United States.
The Federal-style building is on the National Register of Historic Places and houses an extraordinary set of artifacts: a Paul Revere bell, a Simon Willard clock, and an original charter signed by Gloster Dalton, a man freed from slavery. The meetinghouse is also one of the first large historic buildings of its type in New England to achieve carbon neutrality, through the TownGreen2025 clean-energy initiative.
The congregation itself was founded in 1779 by the Reverend John Murray and a small group of dissidents from Gloucester's First Parish Church. In 1786, the congregants sued and won a landmark ruling that they could not be taxed to support a church to which they did not belong — a decision that predated the First Amendment by five years.
With over 300 seats and world-class acoustics, the Meetinghouse is one of Cape Ann's premier large entertainment venues. The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation, established in 2015 and modeled on Boston's Old North Foundation, manages the building and presents an annual season of concerts, symposia, and civic events — including the popular outdoor summer series Music on Meetinghouse Green.
Driving directions
Driving Directions from the South to Gloucester UU Church
Destination: 10 Church Street, Gloucester, MA 01930 (corner of Middle and Church Streets)
From Boston Area (I-95/Route 1 North):
- Take I-95 North for approximately 30 miles
- Take Exit 14 for Route 133 East toward Essex/Gloucester
- Follow Route 133 East for about 8 miles through Essex
- Continue straight as Route 133 becomes Western Avenue in Gloucester
- Turn left onto Main Street (Route 127)
- Follow Main Street north toward downtown Gloucester
- Turn right onto Middle Street
- The church will be on your left at the corner of Middle and Church Streets
From Route 1 North (Alternative):
- Take Route 1 North to Route 128 North
- Follow Route 128 North to Exit 9 (Route 133 East)
- Follow directions above from Route 133 East
From I-93 North:
- Take I-93 North to I-95/Route 128 North
- Follow Route 128 North to Exit 9 (Route 133 East toward Essex/Gloucester)
- Follow directions above from Route 133 East
Parking Information:
- Main parking: Enter the green space parking area between the granite pillars at 50 Middle Street
- Alternative parking: Available around the Historic District on surrounding streets
- Accessibility: Side entrance at 10 Church Street offers elevator access
The church is a historic Federal-style building from 1806 with a distinctive 5-story tower and is located in Gloucester's Historic District, making it easily recognizable upon arrival.
Every venue, fully accessible.
All five venues have wheelchair seating and step-free access. If you need help planning a visit — companion seating, a specific section, or accessible parking — call the box office at (978) 281-0543 and we'll make arrangements ahead of the concert.
Concerts often sell out, so we recommend reserving your spot early in the season. If you'd like a quieter seat or a particular vantage point, just say so when you call — every seat is unreserved by section, and we're happy to help.
See you in the hall.
Browse the season to find what's playing where — or get in touch if you have questions about a particular space.