About

The Sanctuary Boston is a community of vibrant worship and real connection founded in 2012. We gather in worship twice monthly on Wednesday evenings, alternating between Boston and Cambridge. Whether you go to church on Sunday morning or light candles on Friday nights, whether you’ve been hurt by religion, saved by it, or some of both, whether you’re brand new to spiritual community, or a seasoned seeker, you are welcome.

The Sanctuary Boston welcomes people of all beliefs, ages, abilities, classes, cultures, races and ethnicities, sexual orientations and gender identities and expressions. Bring your whole self.

Find out more about our worship services and our small group ministry.

What we believe

At the Sanctuary Boston, we believe that everyone deserves to experience beloved community. We are a community grounded in Unitarian Universalism and open to seekers of all kinds.

Unitarian Universalism calls us to honor the sacredness in every person, find our own beliefs and spiritual path, and live out a belief in the interconnection of humanity and the earth through works of love and justice.

Our individual beliefs and practices may vary widely. We are humanists, theists, Christians, Buddhists, Jews, pagans, and mystics. In the end we don’t feel spiritual community is so much about what we “believe to be true,” but about how we should live and love and share the gift of our lives.


Leadership

Matt Meyer, Director of Community Life
Matt Meyer is the Director of Operations and Community Life for Sanctuary Boston. He also works professionally as an itinerant UU musician and worship leader, having led hundreds of services for UU congregations around the country.

You can contact Matt at thesanctuaryboston@gmail.com.

Mark David Buckles, Music Director
Mark David Buckles is a conductor, composer, singer, music educator, multi-instrumentalist, and worship leader. Mark’s many roles include serving as the Director of Music at Arlington Street Church, Music Director of The Sanctuary Boston, and instructor of piano and music theory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Adele Andrews, Campus Ministry Organizer
Adele is Sanctuary’s Campus Ministry Organizer. Adele is a recent Northeastern graduate with a background in college climate justice organizing. They believe in the power of just and loving community to save a livable future.

You can contact Adele at thesanctuarycampus@gmail.com.

Jen Shattuck, Family Worship Coordinator

Jen is a lifelong UU and currently serves as the religious education assistant at the Unitarian Church of Barnstable and designs RE resources and curriculum that help churches partner with families to bring UU values home.

Craig Hildreth, Multiplatform Tech Lead

Craig is an audio engineer, sound designer and musician based out of the Greater Boston area. In addition to his duties as the Hybrid Tech Lead at Sanctuary Boston, he also manages the weekly broadcast and AV system at First Church Boston and works during the week as the Music Clubhouse Coordinator for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell.


Sanctuary Board of Directors, 2023-2024


Accessibility

We strive to make The Sanctuary Boston a welcoming and accessible space in as many ways as possible. Both of our host churches, First Parish Cambridge and First Church in Boston, are wheelchair accessible and our worship spaces are accessible by elevator.

Have food allergies or dietary restrictions? We’d love to be able to accommodate them, if possible. Please send us an email to request specific accommodations.