United First Parish Church, at 1306 Hancock St in Quincy, is a Unitarian Universalist congregation and the resting place of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams. A guided visit takes you through the church and down to the Adams family crypt, where their wives, Abigail and Louisa Catherine, are also buried. Look for the pew used by John Quincy Adams and the family memorial tablets. The granite Greek Revival building, completed in 1828, connects the church’s continuing religious role with the Adams family’s place in American history.
A church built with Adams family support
A church has stood on this site in Quincy since at least 1639. The present building was completed in 1828, with construction funded by the Adams family. Much of its granite came from the family’s own quarry.
The church is known as the Church of the Presidents because it is the burial place of John Adams and John Quincy Adams. Its Greek Revival design makes the building itself part of the visit: the granite structure is considered among New England’s notable places of worship in that style. The congregation continues to use the church, so the site has both religious and historical significance.
What the guided visit includes
Tours cover the church’s history and its connection to the Adams family, then descend to the family crypt beneath the building. John Adams and John Quincy Adams rest there with their wives, Abigail Adams and Louisa Catherine Adams. The crypt is a quiet space, reached as part of the guided visit.
Inside the church, visitors can see the pew associated with John Quincy Adams and memorial tablets to the Adams family. The tour also includes the church’s construction and historical details, giving context to the rooms and objects rather than focusing on the crypt alone. A visit can be brief: tours have been shortened for people with limited time.
A place of worship as well as a historic site
United First Parish Church remains an active Unitarian Universalist congregation. Sunday services provide a different way to visit, with worship and community activities rather than a history tour. The church’s religious life is part of its identity, alongside its connection to the Adams family.
Treat the building as a working place of worship when you visit. If your main interest is the crypt and the church’s history, choose a guided tour; if you want to attend a service, check the church’s own information before planning your visit.
FAQ
Who is buried at United First Parish Church?
John Adams and John Quincy Adams are buried in the Adams family crypt beneath the church, along with Abigail Adams and Louisa Catherine Adams.
Can you visit the Adams family crypt?
Yes. The crypt is included in guided historical tours of the church.
What can you see inside the church?
The visit can include the pew associated with John Quincy Adams and memorial tablets to the Adams family, as well as the crypt below.
When was the current church built?
The current granite church was completed in 1828. A church has stood on the site since at least 1639.
