Christ Episcopal Church (Red Wing, Minnesota) facts for kids
Christ Episcopal Church is a historic church located in Red Wing, Minnesota, United States. The church parish started in 1858. At first, they used a wooden building for their services.
By 1868, the church community had grown a lot. They needed a bigger place to worship. So, they decided to build a brand new church.
Building a New Church
Work on the new church began in the autumn of 1868. The building was designed in the Gothic Revival style. This style looks like old medieval churches with pointed arches and tall windows. The plans for the church were made by an architect from New York named Henry C. Dudley.
Who Built It?
Many skilled people helped construct the church:
- D.C. Hill was in charge of the main carpentry work. This included building the basic wooden structure.
- George H. Davis did the detailed carpentry. He made the seats, columns, and decorative wood panels. He used butternut wood and finished it with oil.
- G.A. Carlson was the stoneworker. He used limestone from his own quarries to build the church's walls.
- The beautiful windows were made by a person known as "Mr. Sharpe from New York."
Important Dates
The first stone of the new church, called the cornerstone, was laid on June 24, 1869. The church was officially opened and blessed on December 19, 1871. Bishop Henry Benjamin Whipple led this special ceremony.
The tall tower, called a steeple, was not added right away. There were some worries about the church's foundations. The steeple was finally built much later, in 1897.
A Historic Landmark
Today, Christ Episcopal Church is a very important part of the Red Wing Mall Historic District. This district is a collection of historic buildings. The church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as a significant historical site in the United States.