Christ Episcopal Church (Waltham, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Church |
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Christ Church western façade (2023)
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| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Episcopal |
| Website | Church website |
| History | |
| Founded | 1848 |
| Founder(s) | Albert C. Patterson |
| Consecrated | 1902 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Peabody and Stearns |
| Style | English country |
| Years built | 1897–1898 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Fieldstone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts |
Christ Church is an old and important church located at 750 Main Street in Waltham, Massachusetts. It's part of the Episcopal Church, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. This means it's a special building recognized for its history.
The church started in 1848. At first, people met in a local hall. Then, a wooden church was built in 1849. The wooden church became too small. So, a bigger church was designed by famous architects Peabody and Stearns. It was built from local stones between 1897 and 1898 at the spot where it stands today.
Inside, the church has beautiful stained glass windows. These windows were made by well-known artists and companies like Clayton and Bell, Charles Connick, Louis Comfort Tiffany, and Donald MacDonald. Many different rectors, or church leaders, have served Christ Church since it began.
Contents
The Story of Christ Church
The Christ Church community began in 1848. It was started by Albert C. Patterson, who was an Episcopal clergyman and missionary. He thought Waltham, a growing industrial city, was a great place for a new church.
The new Episcopal group first met in Rumford Hall. This building later became Waltham City Hall. In 1849, a wooden church was finished on Central Street in Waltham. A founding member, J. S. Copley Greene, gave the land and much of the money for this first church.
The first main leader, called a rector, was the Rev. Thomas F. Fales. He came from St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Brunswick, Maine. Rev. Fales led Christ Church for over 40 years, until he retired in 1890. During his time, the church grew a lot, from just 15 members to more than 400 people.
Around the time Rev. Fales retired, the church building on Central Street was too small. In 1892, the church bought land at 750 Main Street to build a larger church. The old wooden church building was sold in 1895. Christ Church then held services in Waltham's Maynard Hall while the new building was being built.
In 1896, the architectural firm of Peabody and Stearns was chosen to design the new church. Construction started in early 1897. A kind person named Robert Treat Paine Jr. was a senior warden at Christ Church. He signed the building contract and paid for much of the church himself. Two sisters, Harriet Sarah and Mary Sophia Walker, who were also church members, gave a lot of money too.
The first service in the new building was held on June 17, 1898. On that Sunday, the retired Rev. Fales gave the first sermon. He spoke from a wooden pulpit that he had given as a gift to the new church.
Christ Church is a parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. It was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
How the Church Looks
Christ Church was designed by Peabody and Stearns. They were experts in a style called American Shingle style. The church was built using local stones from Waltham. Its design looks like an English Country style.
The idea for using local stones came from architect H. H. Richardson. He was a friend of Robert Treat Paine Jr. When Paine made his Waltham home bigger in 1883, Richardson designed it. That house, called Stonehurst, was built with stones from Paine's own land. Richardson passed away in 1886, so he didn't work on Christ Church. But his design for Stonehurst inspired Robert Treat Paine Jr. to use the same kind of stones for the church's outside walls.
Amazing Stained Glass Windows
The church has several very important stained glass windows.
- The east window was made by Clayton and Bell. Robert Treat Paine Jr. gave it to the church to remember his wife, Lydia Lyman Paine. She passed away in 1897 while the church was being built. Paine asked for his wife's image to be in the window. You can see her as a figure in red, kneeling before Christ.
- The west window was designed by Charles Connick. This window shows respect for Waltham's history of making things. Besides images of Ruth, Solomon, and Noah (who were all hardworking people in the Bible), the window also shows things like bicycle wheels and parts of watches. These symbols remind us of Waltham's industrial past.
- Along the south wall, there is a special Tiffany window. It was designed by Tiffany artist Frederick Wilson. This window shows the Nativity, which is the birth of Jesus. It was given to the church in 1908.
- Also on the south wall is a window by a famous Boston stained glass artist, Donald MacDonald. This window shows the Easter scene. It shows Christ after he rose from the dead, appearing to Mary Magdalene.
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The east window, showing Lydia Lyman Paine
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The west window, with symbols of Waltham's industries
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The beautiful Tiffany window on the south wall
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Left part of Donald MacDonald's Easter window
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Right part of the Easter window
Church Leaders (Rectors)
Since Christ Church was founded, nine people have been chosen to be the main leader, or rector:
- The Rev. Thomas F. Fales (1849–1890)
- The Rev. Herbert Noel Cunningham (1890–1895)
- The Rev. Hubert Wetmore Wells (1896–1900)
- The Rev. Francis Ellsworth Webster (1901–1930)
- The Rev. George O. Ekwall (1930–1960)
- The Rev. John S. Kromer (1961–1970)
- The Rev. William R. Mawhinney (1971–1999)
- The Rev. Sara H. Irwin (2009–2017)
- The Rev. Dr. Kapya John Kaoma (2019–present)
Note: In the years when there wasn't a rector listed, a priest chosen by the bishop led the church.
See also
