Abstract
This research note describes the process we used to identify and build a dataset of closed houses of worship in greater Boston. Using multiple strategies to gather and cross-check data, we compiled a list of 169 houses of worship that closed between 2000 and 2022. If the property had been formally relinquished, we were able to gather a wealth of specific details from the deeds of sale. We describe the 131 properties that sold during this time period along several axes of interest, including religious tradition, type of buyer, and sale price. We discuss how our ultimate focus on the deeds of sale offers a concrete-yet to be fully articulated-way for scholars and practitioners to navigate the question of what counts as a closed congregation.