The Swellesley Report

Since 2005: More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

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Where to worship in Wellesley, Mass.

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Wellesley has many houses of worship in town, but the arrival of summer often brings significant changes to traditional schedules. As many members of the local community travel during the warmer months, pastoral staff typically adjust their services to accommodate the seasonal dip in attendance. These tweaks can include alternating between different campuses or, in some instances, taking a brief hiatus for a week or two. To ensure you have the most current information regarding service times and locations, consult the individual websites of town churches and synagogues before planning your visit.

Wellesley College Houghton chapel
Wellesley College Houghton chapel
     

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Olive Tree Medical, Wellesley
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MIT Museum, Cambridge

Where to worship in Wellesley (and beyond)

This page was updated July 2026.

Where to worship in Wellesley

Welcome to The Swellesley Report’s “Where to Worship” page, where the town’s faith communities are listed.

Don’t see your spiritual organization’s basic information here? Contact deborahcb100@gmail.com for inclusion.

Chapel in the Pines—summer 2026

Chapel in the Pines is the first Wild Church community in Massachusetts and works in partnership with Wellesley Village Church. Contact chapelinthepines02482@gmail.com for more information.

Chapel in the Pines, Church, Wellesley

First Church of Christ, Scientist
8 Rockland St, 781-235-1114

First Church of Christ Science, Wellesley

 

Elmwood Chapel, WellesleyMetrowest Baptist Church
42 Elmwood Rd., 781-591-0396

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
79 Denton Rd., 781-235-7310

St. Andrews Church, Wellesley
St. Andrews Church, Wellesley

 

St. John the Evangelist Parish (Catholic)
9 Glen Rd., 781-235-0045

7/2026–Kelly Meraw, Director of Pastoral Care and Liturgy for the St. John-St. Paul Collaborative, will in late August 2026 step into the role of Director of Vocal Music at Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart.

Kelly in a message to the church community said, “I will always hold a space of deep gratitude and sacredness for my time working at St. John-St. Paul Collaborative.  I have been witness to hundreds of Masses, weddings, baptisms, and funerals throughout my ten years in this role. I have led bible studies, faith sharing groups, grief accompaniment gatherings, adult faith enrichment programming, and refugee resettlement initiatives. The love of God has been shared with me through so many of my encounters with each of you. It has been the privilege of a lifetime being invited into your experience of Christ’s love.”

St. John Church, Wellesley
St. John the Evangelist Church

St. Paul Parish (Catholic)
502 Washington St., 781-235-1060

 

St. Paul Church, Wellesley
St. Paul Church. Fall 2023

Temple Beth Elohim
10 Bethel Rd., 781-235-8419

 

Temple Beth Elohim, Wellesley

UU Society of Wellesley Hills
309 Washington St., 781-235-7423

UU Wellesley Hills

Wellesley Congregational (Village) Church
2 Central St., 781-235-1988

 

Wellesley Hills Congregational Church
207 Washington St., 781-235-4424

Wellesley Hills Congregational Church
Wellesley Hills Congregational Church. Jan. 2024

Wellesley College religious life

Wellesley College chapel

 

Wellesley Friends Meeting (Quaker)
26 Benvenue St., 781-237-0268

Wellesley Friends Sign, Wellesley

Wellesley Weston Chabad
793 Worcester St., 781-239-1076

WESTON

Center for Interfaith CollaborationCenter for Interfaith Collaboration
130 Newton St, Weston, MA
774-436-5720

Campus currently utilized by Spirit of Life Catholic Community; Agape Spiritual Community; Omid Islamic Center; and Village Church in Weston.

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Page Waterman, Natick
London Harness, Wellesley
Dedham Country Day School

Christmas worship services 2022, Wellesley churches

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Wellesley has many houses of worship that observe Christmas. Whether you’re looking for a service for the kids (complete with a pageant), beautiful music, candlelight, in-person, or a live-streamed experience, check below for a soul-lifting experience. Make sure to check individual websites as you make your plans.

Christmas Eve takes place on Sat., Dec. 24, followed by Christmas Day on Sun., Dec. 25.

First Church of Christ, Scientist

8 Rockland St, 781-235-1114
Regular services on Sunday, December 25, 10am

MetroWest Baptist Church

2 Brook St.  781-431-0828
Check their website for information

Milestone Church at Elmwood Chapel

42 Elmwood Rd.    781-235-6025
Check their website for information

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

79 Denton Rd., 781-235-7310

St. Andrew's Church, Wellesley

Dec. 24, 3pm, Christmas Eve Children’s service
Dec. 24, 5pm, Christmas Eve Family Eucharist service
Dec. 24, 10pm, Christmas Eve Choral Eucharist service
Dec. 25, 10am, Christmas Day service

 

St. John the Evangelist Parish (Catholic)

9 Glen Rd., 781-235-0045

St. Paul Parish (Catholic)

502 Washington St., 781-235-1060

Wellesley St. John, St. Paul Collaborative

Unitarian Universalist Society of Wellesley Hills

309 Washington St., 781-235-9423
Check their website for information

Wellesley Congregational (Village) Church

2 Central St., 781-235-1988

Dec. 24, 4pm, Family service children’s pageant, sanctuary and livestream
Dec. 24, 7pm, Candlelight service with sanctuary choir, sanctuary and livestream
Dec. 24, 9pm Candlelight service with youth and alumni choir, sanctuary and livestream
Dec. 25, 10am, online worship only at this link (no in-person services)

Wellesley Hills Congregational Church

207 Washington St., 781-235-4424

Dec. 24,  3:30pm, family friendly, interactive pageant service for all ages
Dec. 24, 6pm, candlelight service that includes the beautiful sacred music of the Chancel and Handbell Choirs
Dec. 25, 10am service

Wellesley Friends Meeting (Quaker)

26 Benvenue St., 781-237-0268
Check their website for information

Wellesley Youth Basketball
Longfellow, Wellesley

Christmas worship services 2021, Wellesley churches

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Wellesley has many houses of worship that observe Christmas. In-person services are back this year, and masks are encouraged by some churches, and required by others. For those who wish to celebrate at home, live streaming services will be available by most churches.

Whether you choose to attend in-person or online, all the services and masses will be joyful, and all are welcome. Merry Christmas, Wellesley.

Wellesley Square Merchants, Holiday Stroll
Wellesley Square tree lighting, 2021.

First Church of Christ, Scientist

8 Rockland St, 781-235-1114

Regular services online on Sun., Dec. 26, 10am
All are welcome.

MetroWest Baptist Church

2 Brook St.  781-431-0828
See their website for more information.

Milestone Church

42 Elmwood Road, Wellesley, MA
781-235-6025

Since many families travel or host extended family from out of town for Christmas, Milestone offers two identical celebrations on Christmas Eve Eve (Thur., Dec. 23rd, 5pm & 7pm), with live music and an encouraging Christmas candlelight message.

Registration is not required, but encouraged to help ensure each family has a great experience.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

79 Denton Rd., 781-235-7310

St. Andrew's, Wellesley

 

St. John the Evangelist Parish (Catholic)

9 Glen Rd., 781-235-0045

St. Paul Parish (Catholic)

502 Washington St., 781-235-1060

Saint John/Saint Paul, Wellesley

Unitarian Universalist Society of Wellesley Hills

309 Washington St., 781-235-9423

Fri., Dec. 24, 5:15pm: Candlelight & Caroling Christmas Eve service

Join Rev. Kelly and Director of Music Suzie Cartreine for a traditional service of Lessons and Carols, featuring carols sung by the UU Wellesley Hills Choir. The extended Musical Prelude starts at 5:15pm and worship at 5:30pm.

Wellesley Village Church

2 Central St., 781-235-1988

Thursday, December 23, 4:30-6:30pm: Eve of the Eve Sanctuary Open House, in-person and live streamed
Sanctuary open for candlelight prayer and music

Friday, December 24, Christmas Eve Worship, in-person and live streamed
4pm: Family Service with Children’s Pageant in the Sanctuary, in-person and live streamed
8pm: Candlelight Service with Sanctuary Choir, in person and live streamed
10pm: Candlelight Service with Youth and Alumni Choir in the Sanctuary, in-person and live streamed

Wellesley Hills Congregational Church

207 Washington St., 781-235-4424

Wellesley Hills Congregational Church

 

Wellesley Friends Meeting (Quaker)

26 Benvenue St., 781-237-0268

Dec. 24, 4pm: Gather in the Meeting House or on Zoom for a welcome interlude of peace at this busy time of year.  Worship by candlelight and firelight as the sun sets.

Wellesley Symphony Orchestra
Wellesley Marketplace 2026

Wellesley houses of worship will continue to love their neighbors at a distance

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Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday revealed the state’s re-opening plan, which includes a rough timeline along which organizations in various sectors might re-open. Up first were places of worship (up to 40% occupancy), beginning May 18. But don’t expect Wellesley’s religions houses to rush toward re-filling those pews. They’re all still praying on it.

Due to continued COVID-19 concerns, Wellesley Village Church will not rush to re-open.

Despite the new guidelines, religious organizations in town are taking a cautious approach under advisement of each of their own committees as they study the situation carefully. Services and masses, which have been online for weeks now, will continue in that vein, while baptisms, weddings, and funerals will be managed on a case-by-case basis.

Temple Beth Elohim‘s (TBE) Rabbi Joel Sisenwine in an interiew said, “Preservation of human life and health is one of the great values in Judaism. In the rabbinic tradition we’re told to sacrifice certain joys of religious life in order to preserve life, and that is true today.”

Sisenwine said the synagogue, which has not scheduled a re-opening date, has gone as far as temporarily re-branding itself. For now, call it TBE Online.

Milestone Church‘s Pastor Jay Mudd in an interview agreed that now is not the time to take COVID-related health concerns lightly. “We’re huggers at Milestone,” he says. “That’s just not going to work right now.”

Mudd noted that when services do resume, worship will look different than before. According to the Milestone website, “We will have to limit interaction and worship with only a handful of people in the room. Your overall worship experience will be much different than you expect.”

Day by day

No church or synagogue offices are staffed right now. A pastor or rabbi might stop in briefly to record a section of the upcoming online worship service. A bare-bones cleaning crew does the rounds of chores quickly and at a distance from one another. Phone calls either go to voicemail or are picked up by a staff member working from home.

When the buildings do re-open, expect to see masks on clergy and worshippers; plenty of sanitation supplies available from hand sanitizer to bleach wipes; and even plexiglass shields in some offices to protect staff as they interact with the public. All scenarios are currently up for discussion including traffic patterns throughout the spaces and a dismissal system that could look less like a meandering flock headed out in to the world and more like a military operation.

It seems likely that most sanctuaries will remain closed until fall, which could be the most sensible course given that attendance at Wellesley churches and synagogues already trends downward during the summer months. The closest to opening may be St. John and St. Paul’s. Weekly mass attendance is  a precept of the Catholic Church, although dispensation from the Sunday Mass obligation has been granted to the faithful for now.

According to Wellesley Village Church (WVC) pastor Sarah Butter in a statement on the church’s website, “I am not ready to reopen WVC for public worship or gatherings until we discern it is in the best interest and well-being of all. For now…worship will be remote and small groups and meetings will continue to gather on-line.” WVC is looking to work toward a phased reopening, hopefully in the fall.

The commandment has been delivered loud and clear: Love they neighbor as thyself — but do so at a distance.

MORE:

Where to worship online in Wellesley

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Holiday worship schedules in Wellesley, 2019

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Happy holidays, Wellesley. By now you’re probably ready to slow down, set aside the to-do list, and contemplate the reason for  the season. Some of Wellesley’s houses of worship celebrate with all the formality you might expect from historic churches with Puritan roots, while others have a more casual flair or take a non-denominational approach to the holidays. All the services bring people together, and all are welcome. Here’s a list of upcoming Wellesley services:

First Church of Christ, Scientist

8 Rockland St, 781-235-1114

Regular services on Sunday, December 29, 10am. All are welcome.

Milestone Church

42 Elmwood Rd., Wellesley
217 We. Central St., Natick

Live music, candlelight singing, Christmas message, and extravagant cookie bar with a variety of cookies, hot cocoa, apple cider, and more.
Milestone Wellesley @ 4:30pm Milestone Natick @ 6:30pm
**Tickets are not required to attend but encouraged to help for seating and parking

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

79 Denton Rd., 781-235-7310

Christmas Eve Services: Tue., December 24, 3pm, 5pm, 10pm
Christmas Day Service: Wed., December 25, 10am
Christmas Lessons & Carols: Sun., December 29, 10am
Epiphany Fireside Service & Potluck: Sun., January 5, 5pm

St. John the Evangelist Parish (Catholic)

9 Glen Rd., 781-235-0045

Christmas Eve
4pm Family Mass (3:30 Youth Choir Prelude and Carols)
4pm Mass in Philbin Hall (St. John School Hall)
6pm Mass
10pm Mass (9:30pm Choir Prelude and Carols)

Christmas Day
10:30am  Mass (10am Choir Prelude and Carols)

St. Paul Parish (Catholic)

502 Washington St., 781-235-1060

Christmas Eve
4pm Masses (Masses are in Church and Parish Hall)
6pm Family Mass (Children’s Choir and Pageant)
8pm Mass (7:30pm Choir Prelude and Carols)
12:00 Midnight Mass (11:30 Youth Music Group Prelude and Carols)

Christmas Day
11am Mass (10:30am Choir Prelude and Carols)

Temple Beth Elohim

10 Bethel Rd., 781-235-8419

Chanukah is celebrated December 22 – 30 this year. TBE notes, “Chanukah, meaning “dedication” in Hebrew, is an eight-day festival commemorating the victory of a small group of Jewish rebels over the armies of Syria in 165 B.C.E. and the subsequent liberation and rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem.” MORE

Unitarian Universalist Society of Wellesley Hills

309 Washington St., 781-235-9423

Caroling and Christmas Eve Service Tue., December 24, 5:30pm

Wellesley Congregational (Village) Church

2 Central St., 781-235-1988

Christmas Eve Worship (Family Service, Christmas Pageant), Tue., December 24, 4pm
Christmas Eve Worship (Candlelight Service with Senior Choir), Tue., December 24, 8pm
Christmas Eve Worship (Candlelight Service with Youth Choir, Tue., December 24, 10pm

Wellesley Hills Congregational Church

207 Washington St., 781-235-4424

Family Christmas Pageant, Tue., December 24, 3:30pm
Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols, Tue., December 24, 6pm (Prelude of music begins at 5:45pm)
Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols, Tue., December 24, 9:30pm (Prelude of music begins at 9:15pm)

Wellesley Friends Meeting (Quaker)

26 Benvenue St., 781-237-0268

Christmas Eve worship by firelight and candlelight, Tue., December 24, 4pm – 5pm
Worship followed by ham, egg nog, and fixings. Contributions gratefully accepted toward the cost of the hams. Any extra money will be donated to charity.

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St. Andrew’s Church in Wellesley celebrates 125 years of worship and outreach

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Back in 1892, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church parishioners, confident the time was right to build a permanent church home, collected $650 at the Easter service for the construction of what is now the 79 Denton Road church. Two years later on November 30, 1894 the first service was held in the newly completed sanctuary. The congregation had come a long way from its early years when it met in various locations, first in the upper story of a wheelwright shop that stood opposite Wellesley Town Hall and then in the Town Hall itself.

St. Andrew's Church, Wellesley, Rev. Adrian Robbins-Cole
St. Andrew’s Church Rev. Adrian Robbins-Cole raises a glass at the 125th anniversary celebration at the Wellesley Country Club. Photo credit: John Mottern

“All this is a legacy given to us by previous generations of parishioners, to build up the spiritual life of the community and fill it more with the spirit of Christ,” noted current St. Andrew’s Rev. Andrian Robbins-Cole.

Amen to that, said today’s parishioners of the 300-family church, now let’s party. To commemorate the 125-year anniversary of the bricks-and-mortar location, party they did at a gala at the Wellesley Country Club earlier this month.

St. Andrew's Church, Wellesley, Parishioners
St. Andrew’s parishioners celebrate the generations of members who have maintained, improved, and added to the church building to make it a central spot for worship and the church’s outreach programs. Photo credit: John Mottern

Parishioner Lynda Sperry said, “The Gala was pure celebration of our 125 years. We just wanted to have a good time and enjoy. We’re not done celebrating. On November 24th there will be a big church service for the 125th.”

They’re not tired yet

The 125th celebration follows on the heels of a $2 million capital campaign, which got started early last year and wrapped up in May. Sperry, co-chair of the campaign, said, “The capital campaign was three-fold. To create a property refurbishment fund, to increase our endowment, and to share 10% of the $2 million we raised with our three main outreach partners — El Hogar in Honduras, St. Stephen’s Church in Boston, and Family Promise Metrowest.”

El Hogar’s mission is to transform the lives of children who are crippled by extreme poverty by providing a home and education to children who would otherwise have little hope of a future;  St. Stephen’s has long been in partnership with St. Andrew’s; and Family Promise Metrowest works with families with children who are homeless by mobilizing a diverse community to provide shelter, education and comprehensive support.

When I’m 125, I hope someone gives me a facelift

$1.3 million of the funds raised during the capital campaign will go toward property improvements, which will be done over three consecutive summers. Just to paint the interior of the church is no small task. To do so, first the magnificent Juget-Sinclair organ must be wrapped, and all the stained glass must be protected. Also on the punch list for an upgrade: the lighting, restoration of the pews; sanding the hardwood floors; some landscaping; and other projects.

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Church services at St. Andrew’s

Sundays, 8am & 10am
Wednesdays, 7:30am
Weekdays, 8:50am for silent contemplative prayer

St. Andrew's Church, Wellesley
St. Andrew’s Church, Wellesley, circa 1946. Photo courtesy of St. Andrew’s Church.

Christmastime worship schedules, Wellesley churches

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Wellesley has ten houses of worship that observe Christmas. Some celebrate with all the formality you might expect from a church with Puritan roots, some with a casual flair, and one takes their services on the road and into a Natick barn. All the services and masses are joyful, and all are welcome. Merry Christmas, Wellesley.

Elmwood Chapel

42 Elmwood Rd.    781-235-6025

Join Milestone Church at Elmwood Chapel as they host a very special Christmas eve service for the whole family. Live music, candlelight Christmas message, and don’t miss a massive cookie bar with a variety of cookies, hot cocoa, apple cider, and more!

Monday, December 24, 2018
5:30pm – Wellesley Cookie Bar
6:00 pm – Wellesley Candlelight Service

Although registration is not required to attend, we are expecting large crowds so please register to claim your spot and help us prepare.

First Church of Christ, Scientist

8 Rockland St, 781-235-1114

Regular services on Sunday, December 23, 10am
Immediately following services there will be a Christmas hymn singing in the Sunday School.
All are welcome.

MetroWest Baptist Church

2 Brook St.  781-431-0828
Note: Christmas observance is Sunday, December 23 at the Natick Organic Community Farm barn, 117 Eliot St., Natick

Metro West Baptist Church holds a unique Christmas service — they celebrate the birth of Jesus where it all began, in a humble barn. Worshippers sit on bales of hay and read the Christmas story, sing carols and enjoy hot cocoa as they imagine just a tiny bit of what it might have been like 2000 years ago.

Sunday, December 23, 10am, at the Natick Organic Community Farm.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

79 Denton Rd., 781-235-7310

Christmas Eve Services: Monday, December 24, 3pm and 10pm
Christmas Day Service: Tuesday, December 25, 10am
Christmas Lessons & Carols: Sunday, December 30, 10am
Epiphany Fireside Service & Potluck: Sunday, January 6, 5pm

St. John the Evangelist Parish (Catholic)

9 Glen Rd., 781-235-0045

Christmas Vigil Mass (School Hall): Monday, December 24, 4pm
Christmas Vigil Mass (Upper Church): Monday, December 24, 4pm
Christmas Vigil Mass (with 5:10 Prelude with Youth Choir and musicians): Monday, December 24, 5:30pm
Christmas Vigil Mass (with 9:30 Prelude and Carols with Parish Choir): Monday, December 24, 10pm
Collaborative Midnight Mass at St. Paul Church, 502 Washington St. (11:30 Prelude and Carols with Youth Choir): Monday, December 24, 11:59pm
Christmas Mass (10am Prelude & Carols with Parish Choir): Tuesday, December 25, 10:30am

St. Paul Parish (Catholic)

502 Washington St., 781-235-1060

Christmas Vigil Mass (Church and Parish Hall): Monday, December 24, 4pm
Christmas Vigil Mass (with Children’s Pageant and Choir): Monday, December 24, 6pm
Christmas Vigil Mass (carols with Adult Choir): Monday, December 24, 8pm
Midnight Mass (11:30 Prelude with Youth Music Group)
Christmas Day Mass (10:30am Prelude with Adult Choir): Tuesday, December 25, 11am

Unitarian Universalist Society of Wellesley Hills

309 Washington St., 781-235-9423

Christmas Eve Service Monday, December 24, 5pm, with an extended prelude of holiday songs beginning at 4:45pm

Wellesley Congregational (Village) Church

2 Central St., 781-235-1988

Advent IV, Service of Holy Anticipation, Sunday, December 23, 10am
Christmas Eve Worship (Family Christmas Pageant), Monday, December 24, 4pm
Christmas Eve Worship (Candlelight Service with Senior Choir), Monday, December 24, 8pm
Christmas Eve Worship (Candlelight Service with Youth & Alumni Choir, Monday, December 24, 10pm

Wellesley Hills Congregational Church

207 Washington St., 781-235-4424

Family Christmas Pageant, Monday, December 24, 3:30pm
Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols, Monday, December 24, 6pm
Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols, Monday, December 24, 9:30pm

Wellesley Friends Meeting (Quaker)

26 Benvenue St., 781-237-0268

Christmas Eve Meeting for worship, Monday, December 24, 4pm – 5pm.