Pillars & Foundations

I visited Bell Rock Park recently at dusk and found the lighting and the cold air of winter to add a certain poignance to the monuments on this gorgeous, overlooked green space, hiding in plain sight in Boston suburbia. During my visit I noticed a couple of other people who were looking at the plaques that memorialize a multitude of different items, primarily war memorials.  The City of Malden website provides some details on Bell Rock Park, noting that it commemorates the two earliest Congregational Meeting houses in Malden. These meeting houses in the 16-1700s often served as both government and spiritual centers of communities. The website also notes that Bell Rock Park is on the National Register of Historic Places and was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. in 1910. Olmsted Jr. is the second generation of the Olmsted family who left an impressive mark on the American landscape, designing public spaces from coast to coast, and setting standards for the profession. The sever...

First Parish Malden, Unitarian Universalist, Malden, MA Pillars & Foundations documents an exploration of communities, as well as faith through religious institutions. My intent is to share experiences, and spread the positivity that I observe. The hope is to provide a window into these organizations allowing those who might not other wise venture in to appreciate these thoughtful, often intimate groups in our midst. Faith centers embody a drive to make a difference which they deliver upon, regardless if it is with one person looking for hope & community, or a recipient of their expansive charitable work. Building & History Aptly named First Parish was founded at the same time as the city it resides in, Malden, MA, in the year 1648. According to First Parish's website the church, primarily a Universalist church ( Unitarians merged with Universalists in 1961 ), has resided in five different buildings. This building, a granite neo-gothic revival structure, wa...

Saint Paul's Episcopal Parish, Malden, Massachusetts Pillars & Foundations documents an exploration of communities, as well as faith through religious institutions. My intent is to share experiences, and spread the positivity that I observe. The hope is to provide a window into these organizations allowing those who might not other wise venture in to appreciate these thoughtful, often intimate groups in our midst. Faith centers embody a drive to make a difference which they deliver upon, regardless if it is with one person looking for hope & community, or a recipient of their expansive charitable work. Building & History This church certainly has an Anglican, medieval air about it, and it certainly is small, and yet it feels sort of grand when you are sitting in the pews between the massive columns holding up the nave. The parish dates back to 1861 and the current church had its cornerstone laid in 1913 . I'm thankful to St. Paul's website for providin...

Sacred Hearts Church, Malden, Massachusetts Pillars & Foundations documents a journey through my surrounding communities, as seen through the experience of its religious institutions. My intent is to share exploration, and spread the positivity that I observe. The hope is to provide a window into these organizations allowing those who might not other wise venture in to appreciate these thoughtful, often impactful groups in our midst. Faith centers embody a drive to make a difference which they deliver upon, regardless if it is with one person looking for hope & community, or a recipient of their expansive charitable work. The church faces west, and is in the shadow in the morning, however the sun seemed to line up perfectly with the crucifix atop the bell tower on the right. Building & History I was pleased to find an incredibly detailed history page on Sacred Hearts Parish's webpage that discusses not only the history of the church, but ties it into events...