Church of the Disciples was a Unitarian church located in Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded by James Freeman Clarke early in 1841. 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. The first meeting subsequent to organization was in a part of Amory Hall. The congregation soon outgrew the room and for a while, they met at Ritchie Hall. When they were able to secure the whole of Amory Hall, they returned to it. When it became too small for their increasing numbers, they went to the Masonic Temple. Though an internal split occurred in 1845, the congregation was ready to build its own structure in 1847, the Freeman Place Chapel.

Clarke's health faded in 1849, and for the next five years, most of the congregants scattered, while a few remained together, meeting monthly. Clarke returned to his duties in 1854, and in the following year, the church came into possession of the Indiana-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.

Clarke died in 1888, and in the following year, Charles Gordon Ames became the new minister. The congregation moved to the Jersey and Peterboro Streets Church in 1905. Ames was succeeded by his associate minister, Rev. Abraham Mitrie Rihbany, in 1910 who retired in 1938. In 1941, the Church of the Disciples sold its edifice and united with the Arlington Street Church.

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 had for several years existed in Boston an association of Unitarian clergy and laymen, who met from time to time at one another's houses to consult upon the general interests of their denomination; and in the winter of 1840-41 these meetings were very fully attended. 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. These were generally empty, unless, occasionally, strangers might be seen in them. The pews were, for the most part, occupied by those who owned or hired them; and, however small might be their families, it was not customary to let other people sit in them.

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. There seemed to be a need in the Unitarian community for a church of a different character and organization from those already existing. Various measures for meeting this want were discussed. It was agreed that the new church must be a free church, - that is, one supported by the voluntary contributions of its members; but the establishment of such a church seemed to many to be beset with too great obstacles to be successful. 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.

Clarke had given this considerable advance thought. 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. What I next undertake I wish to continue through life. ... " 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. ... What I should like best would be a church founded on elective affinities, not on the purse principle. I mean a society drawn together because they like me and my ideas."

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. He did not consult with the Association as a body, nor with many of them as individuals.