Christ Church (Quincy, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Christ Church
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 12 Quincy Ave., Quincy, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1874 |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| MPS | Quincy MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 89001369 |
| Added to NRHP | September 20, 1989 |
Christ Church is a very old and important church located in Quincy, Massachusetts. It belongs to the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, which is a group of Episcopal churches in the state. People first gathered for services here way back in 1689. The church officially started in 1704. Many believe it is the oldest Episcopal church in Massachusetts that has been active without stopping. The building you see today was built in 1874. It has a special style called Tudor Revival. Because of its history and unique look, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
Contents
About Christ Church
Christ Church is found at the corner of Quincy and Elm Streets in Quincy. It's just south of the main downtown area. The church is built from strong local granite stone. It has a roof that slopes steeply, covered with slate tiles.
Church Design and Style
The front of the church has a large, arched stained glass window. The sides of the building have small supports called buttressing. These help the walls stand strong. The entrances on each side look like those found in old English country churches. This design was very popular for Episcopal churches at the time.
One interesting difference from traditional English churches is the back part. Instead of a rounded section called an apse, this church has a flat wall at the back.
The Parish House
Connected to the back of the church is a building called the parish house. It also has the same Tudor Revival style. It's made from the same local granite. This building has heavy stone window sills and tops (lintels). Its roof also has steep, ridged gables, matching the church's look.
History of the Church
The Christ Church community officially began in 1704. This was when the area was still part of Braintree. Reverend William Barclay helped to organize it.
Early Church Buildings
The first church building was constructed in 1727. It was located on School Street, where the Christ Church Burial Ground is now. Later, in 1832, a second wooden church was built at the current location. Then, in 1859, a stone church was built there. Sadly, both of these buildings were destroyed by fire.
The Current Building
The church building you see today was built in 1874. It was designed in an English Revival style. This style was very popular for Episcopal churches during that time. It helped the church look like the historic churches in England.
See also
- Christ Church Burial Ground (Quincy, Massachusetts)
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Quincy, Massachusetts
