King’s Chapel has stood on the corner of Tremont and School streets since 1686. It’s one of the oldest churches in Boston and one of the 16 official stops on the Freedom Trail. But as of Sept. 14, the facade of the imposing stone church will look a little different. On its south terrace, passersby will now spot a larger-than-life statue of a Black woman. Draped in regal white, she sits on a pedestal holding a metal cage and from that cage, birds fly free.

This monument, titled “Unbound” and crafted by artist Harmonia Rosales in partnership with MASS Design Group, was 10 years in the making. The powerful bronze figure honors the 219 people known to have been enslaved by past church members and ministers.

In 2015, the King’s Chapel historian began to uncover the existence of the enslaved people who had not been included in the story of the church. Their names are listed on the King’s Chapel website. From there, the church leadership and the congregation began the process of reconciling with this history and determining how to honor these individuals both publicly and within the church community.

Dean Denniston has been chair of the memorial committee since its inception and a member of the King’s Chapel congregation for 30 years.

“We were telling some parts of our history, but we weren’t telling all of the parts of our history,” said Denniston. “Massachusetts was the first state to legalize slavery initially; that’s one of the firsts we don’t talk about.”

Read the full article here: The Bay State Banner