Christ Episcopal Church (South Pittsburg, Tennessee) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Christ Episcopal Church and Parish House
|
|
Christ Episcopal Church in February 1983
|
|
| Location | 302 West 3rd Street at Holly Avenue South Pittsburg, Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1884 (church), ca. 1889 (parish hall) |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 77001278 |
| Added to NRHP | August 22, 1977 |
Christ Episcopal Church is a special church in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. It's part of the Episcopal faith. The church building and its parish house (a community hall) are very old and important. They are located at 302 West 3rd Street, right on the corner of Holly Avenue. These buildings are so important that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are protected because of their history.
Contents
The Story of Christ Episcopal Church
How the Church Began
The first people who went to Christ Church were workers from England. They had moved to South Pittsburg to work at a large company. This company, called Southern States Coal, Iron, and Land, was based in London. These workers started meeting to worship together in 1876.
Building the Church
The Southern States company gave land for the church. So, the church members began building a new church in 1882. Bishop Charles T. Quintard, an important leader in the Tennessee Episcopal Church, helped with the design. He wanted the church to look "graceful and churchly." He also suggested it should be long and narrow, with a steep roof. The church building was finished in 1884.
Growing the Church Community
With help from Bishop Quintard and St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Chattanooga, Christ Church officially became a parish in May 1887. A year later, a rectory (a home for the church's leader) was built. A bell tower was also added to the church. Bishop Quintard then officially dedicated the church. The church's parish house was completed around 1889. Later, in 1960, an addition was built to connect the parish house to the church.
A Historic Landmark
Because of their importance, the church and parish house were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. This helps protect them for future generations.
What the Church Looks Like
Gothic Revival Style
Christ Church is built in the Gothic Revival style. This means it looks like older European churches. Both the church and the parish house are one-story buildings. The church is about 27 feet wide and 57 feet long. This makes it more than twice as long as it is wide, just as Bishop Quintard suggested.
Inside the Church
The church building and its inside decorations are made almost entirely of wood. This includes a special hand-carved altar and a baptismal font. The square bell tower has two levels. It has an open area for the bells and a steep, pointed roof. The church also has beautiful stained glass windows. One of these windows was made by Tiffany Studios and put in place in 1915. There is also a Moller organ that was installed in 1928.
A Special Design
In 1974, a group called the Historic American Buildings Survey studied Christ Church. They said it was one of the few wooden Gothic Revival buildings in Tennessee. They also noted that it showed the creative design ideas of the Episcopal church in East Tennessee during the Victorian era.
Church Leaders
As of 2014, the main leader of Christ Church was the Rev. Kim Merritt Hobby. The Rev. Gary England was also a deacon assigned to the church. He was appointed by the Rt. Rev. George Young, who was the Bishop of East Tennessee.
