All Saints Episcopal Church (Saugatuck, Michigan) facts for kids
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All Saints' Episcopal Church
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 252 Grand St., Saugatuck, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1873 |
| Built by | George Harnes, George E. Dunn, and William Dunning |
| Architect | Gordon W. Lloyd |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000511 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 27, 1984 |
All Saints Episcopal Church is a historic church in Saugatuck, Michigan. It was built between 1872 and 1873. This church is a great example of the Carpenter Gothic style of building. On February 27, 1984, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.
Contents
History of the Church
Starting the Congregation
The first Episcopal church service in the Saugatuck area happened in 1862. It was led by Reverend J. Rice Taylor. The church group in Saugatuck officially started in 1868. Reverend Taylor also worked in Holland, Michigan. He helped the Saugatuck group as a missionary minister.
The church members immediately began planning for their own building. In 1871, they bought the land where the church stands today. Reverend Taylor was very important in collecting money for the church. He got donations from people both inside and outside the church group.
Building the Church
The congregation chose Gordon W. Lloyd, an architect from Detroit, to design their new church. Local builders named George Harnes, George E. Dunn, and William Dunning were hired to construct it. Building started in 1872.
Even though the church was not fully finished, the first service was held there in January 1873. The main construction was mostly done by the end of 1874. However, the inside of the building needed more work. Over the next few years, money was raised to add important things. These included beautiful stained glass windows, carpets, a special organ, lamps, and seats.
Challenges and Revival
Over the next few decades, Saugatuck faced tough times. The lumber industry slowed down, and the town's population got smaller. By 1892, the church was not used much. It didn't have a priest and was even damaged by vandals.
But things changed by 1907. Saugatuck became a popular place for summer vacations. This helped the church become active again. It got a new priest, and regular services started once more. The church building was also improved. All Saints Episcopal Church is still used by its congregation today.
What the Church Looks Like
All Saints Episcopal Church is built in the Gothic Revival style. It uses a special way of building called "board-and-batten." This means long, flat boards are placed side-by-side, with thin strips of wood (battens) covering the gaps.
The church has a pointed roof, called a gable roof. There is a tall tower on one corner, which holds the main entrance. The outside walls have tall, narrow windows with pointed tops. These are called lancet windows.
Inside, the church has wooden floors made of pine. The lower part of the walls has vertical wooden panels called wainscoting. The ceiling is built right under the roof. You can see the wooden beams, called trusses, that hold it up. The main area where people sit is called the nave. It has a center aisle with rows of benches, called pews, on each side.
See also
List of Registered Historic Places in Allegan County, Michigan
