The present Old West Church was built in 1806. In the years before the Civil War, the church was used to hide fugitive slaves. From 1896 to 1960, after the congregation sold the building to the city, the Boston Public library had a branch library in the building. For many years, on Election Day, the building was used as a polling place. John and Jackie Kennedy were registered to vote here. The building reopened as a Methodist Church in 1962.