The first public step taken by Clarke was preaching three times in the Phillips Place Chapel, with the purpose of forming a new religious society.

Though an internal split occurred in 1845, the congregation was ready to build its own structure in 1847, the Freeman Place Chapel.

The need of a larger place of worship brought a removal in 1868 to the church at the corner of West Brookline Street and Warren Avenue.

The period immediately following the financial crisis of 1837, when the fortunes of very many in the community were swept away, was one of intense religious excitement, and revivals in the churches that claimed to be evangelical.

The liberal denominations were alike awakened; but they were disappointed to find that, while there was increased religious interest as well as activity, they failed to bring into their churches any considerable number of earnest Christian worshippers.

There was a general desire to bring into their congregations that numerous class who were unable to have pews of their own, and whose sense of independence or of pride kept them from occupying the free seats of which there was an abundance in some of the churches.

[1] Moreover, a strong desire existed at this time for a higher degree of spiritual culture than could be obtained from the customary religious services of their congregations.

No one presented himself to take on the task, until James Freeman Clarke, at one of these meetings offered to undertake the work on his own responsibility.

In March 1836, he wrote from Louisville, Kentucky:— "I sometimes think that, could I go to Boston and preach in some free church, or start a new society on rather different principles, speaking more to conscience than to intellect, more to intuitive reason than to speculative understanding, making morality and religion one, not two separate matters, I might find a number who would hear me gladly.” Again, in May 1840, he wrote from Louisville: "I have made up my mind to one thing conclusively; that is, not to commit myself hastily to any new situation or work.

... " In October 1840, he wrote from New England: "There are many large parishes vacant where I might settle, and it would be pleasant enough to have leisure for study; but I think I could do more in a city, and am better suited for that life.

"[1] In making this announcement to undertake the work, Clarke acted with the encouragement of Dr. William Ellery Channing, and of one of the most experienced members of the Boston Association.

In consequence of a notice given in Phillips Place Chapel, a meeting of the friends of the movement was held at a private house, February 17, 1841.

[1] Clarke read a series of proposals:—[2]"I offer to go on and preach, every Lord's day, in the morning and evening, for three or six months, or until the society becomes strong enough to contribute to the support of a preacher, upon the following conditions.First, that without any longer delay than may be necessary, a hall be provided in some convenient part of the city, with fire, lights, &c.Second, that when the time shall arrive to organize a church, it shall be understood that the following three principles be embodied in it.The Social Principle.

So far as may be practicable we will endeavor that the whole congregation shall join in the worship of God, by responses to the prayers, and by uniting in the hymns, chants and anthems.

Indeed, there seemed to be some danger, for as the founders constantly met for the discussion and investigation of Christian truth, they recognized a great variety of opinion, and opposing tendencies in their midst.

[3] It was built at a cost of about US$30,000, nearly two-thirds of that amount having been contributed by members of the society and its friends, some of whom consented to furnish the remainder of the sum needed upon a mortgage of the estate.

Many united with other churches while a small band of the disciples kept together and met monthly in a hall, the use of which was given them by the Boston Young Men's Christian Union.

A correspondence was interchanged between Clarke and his parishioners during his absence, so that when he was able, in January 1854, to resume his work, they soon gathered around this nucleus of an organization which had all the while been kept up; and the Church of the Disciples, which had never gone out of existence, assembled once more, first in the Christian Union hall for a short period and afterwards, in the Williams Hall, at the corner of Dover and Washington Streets.

[4] For many years, the Indiana Place Chapel held weekly evening meetings, in which the attendees discussed questions of religion and morality, church dogmas, Scripture texts, and the various reform movements in the community.

It included 19 churches -Church of the Disciples being one of them- which were represented in the Conference by their respective ministers and six lay delegates.

[5] The need of a larger house of worship brought a removal in 1868 to a new commodious church at the corner of West Brookline Street and Warren Avenue.

[6] In 1905, Ames moved the church to a new house of worship at the corner of Jersey and Peterboro Streets, in the Back Bay.

The Sunday school, that had inspired the leadership of John Albion Andrew and William Henry Baldwin Jr., took on new responsibilities in the field of religious education.

[4] The church being free from debt for many years, it decided to secure a larger work by raising as a memorial to its second minister, "the Charles Gordon Ames Endowment Fund".

[4] On April 21, 1912, the young people of the Disciples' Guild, and others made a pilgrimage to the places associated with the history of the church since its founding in 1841.

First, they visited the old home of Lucia M. Peabody on Bowdoin Street, in whose parlor was held one of the initial meetings of the society.

The Church of the Disciples, during the 72 years of its existence, has not deviated a hair's breadth from the true congregational principle on which it was founded by James Freeman Clarke and his first followers.