Grace Episcopal Church (Hopkinsville, Kentucky) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Grace Episcopal Church
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The Church's entrance on East 6th St.
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Location | 216 East 6th St., Hopkinsville, Kentucky |
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| Area | 0.4 acres (0.16 ha) |
| Built | 1883 |
| Architect | J. Rosenplanter, Robert Mills |
| Architectural style | English Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002679 |
| Added to NRHP | January 28, 1982 |
Grace Episcopal Church is a historic church located at 216 East 6th Street in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. The beautiful stone building you can see today was built in 1883. Because of its long history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This means it is officially recognized as an important part of American history.
Contents
The Church's Long History
The first Episcopal church group, or parish, in Hopkinsville started around 1830. Before they had their own building, they met in a Presbyterian church and even the local courthouse. The first church building was built around 1850.
A famous person in American history, Jefferson Davis, who was the president of the Confederate States during the American Civil War, visited and worshiped at Grace Church on October 10, 1875. The church has a special marker to remember his visit.
Building a New Church
The church building that stands today was built in 1883. It was designed in the English Gothic Revival style, which was a popular look for churches at the time. It has pointed arches and detailed stonework that make it look like a church from medieval England.
A man from Hopkinsville named John C. Latham Jr., who was known for giving money to help his community, paid for most of the new church. To thank him, the church put in two beautiful stained glass windows in his and his mother's honor. Mr. Latham also bought a large Estey Organ for the church and left a gift of $50,000 when he passed away in 1909 to help the church for years to come.
Helping the Community
In the 1880s, a time when African Americans were treated very unfairly in the southern United States, a man named Nat Gaither started a program to help teach Black children.
With help from the people of Grace Church, another man named A.H. McNeil raised money to build a separate church called the Chapel of the Good Shepherd in 1896. This gave the Black Episcopal community its own place to worship.
Over the years, Grace Church has added more buildings. Gaither Hall was added in 1906, and All Saints Hall was built in 1985.
Grace Commons: A Place for Peace
Across the street from the church is a special park called Grace Commons. At its center is a labyrinth, which is a single, winding path that leads to a center. It is not a maze with dead ends, but a path for walking and thinking quietly.
This labyrinth is a copy of a famous one from the 1200s found in the Chartres Cathedral in France. It is open for anyone to visit, not just church members. The church bought the land for the park in 2004. A hotel once stood there, but it burned down in 1940. Instead of putting up a new building, the church decided to create this peaceful park for the whole community. Grace Commons was finished in 2008.
All Saints Hall
All Saints Hall is a large room attached to the main church. It is used for many events, like church dinners, meetings, and a preschool for young children.
The church worked for many years to buy the land around it to make the neighborhood a better place. They bought an auto body shop, a plumbing store, and other buildings and tore them down to make space. All Saints Hall was finished in 1985. Inside, it is decorated with hand-blown stained glass and banners that show symbols of important figures in Christian history.
