Grace Episcopal Church (Plainfield, New Jersey) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Grace Church or Grace Episcopal Church
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Seventh Street entrance
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 Location in Union County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | 600 Cleveland Avenue Plainfield, New Jersey |
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| Area | 1.7 acres (0.69 ha) |
| Built | 1892 |
| Architect | Robert W. Gibson; Charles Wilson; et al. |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 02000106 |
| Added to NRHP | May 10, 2002 |
Grace Church, also known as Grace Episcopal Church, is a beautiful old church in Plainfield, New Jersey. You can find it at 600 Cleveland Avenue. This church is very special because of its amazing architecture, art, and music. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 10, 2002. This means it's an important historical building in the United States.
Contents
Discovering Grace Church's Past
Grace Church has a long and interesting history. It started as St. Mary's Episcopal Church on April 18, 1853. Just three months later, they began building the first church. This first building was on East Front Street in Plainfield.
Growing Congregation Needs a New Home
By 1876, the church community had grown a lot. The original building was too small for everyone. So, they bought new land in a fancy part of town. This new spot was at Seventh Street and Sycamore Street. Today, that's Cleveland Avenue.
The old church building was carefully moved to this new location. Workers took it apart and put it back together. On October 15, 1876, the church members worshipped in their "new" old building for the first time.
Designing a Grand New Church
As Plainfield became a busy town, the church needed an even bigger building. They wanted a church that would fit the growing community. They chose a famous architect named Robert W. Gibson. He had designed many important buildings in New York City.
Gibson designed Grace Church in the Gothic Revival style. This means it looks like the grand churches from the Middle Ages. It was built with stone and had beautiful red sandstone carvings.
Exploring Grace Church's Architecture
The cornerstone for the new Grace Church was laid on May 5, 1891. The very first service in this new building happened on April 17, 1892. The church's design shows the amazing building styles of the late 1800s.
Unique Design Features
Grace Church has a special shape called a cruciform plan. This means it looks like a cross from above. It has a tall main area called a nave. This nave is flanked by narrower side aisles.
The church also features pointed arched windows and doors. These are common in Gothic style buildings. You can see decorative sandstone carvings around the windows and doors. High windows above the aisles, called clerestory windows, let in lots of light.
Special Areas Inside the Church
Inside the church, you'll find the Chapel of Christ the King. This chapel is in the south part of the church. It was dedicated in 1966 to remember Walter C. Scott.
The church's pulpit is made of white oak. It was dedicated in 1964. Carved figures of the Four Evangelists are on the pulpit. These figures, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, were carved in Italy. Each figure has a symbol of their Gospel at its feet.
The Parish House
The Parish House was built in 1905. It has many rooms for different activities. The second floor has six classrooms and two offices. Downstairs, there are five more classrooms and a small gym. This area also has offices for community outreach.
The main floor has the All Saints Chapel and a meeting room. There's also a parlor that connects to the kitchen. A large assembly hall, named after Dr. Harry James Knickle, is at one end. The church office and Rector's Office are at the other end.
Discovering the Ackerman Memorial Garden
The Ackerman Memorial Garden is a peaceful spot at Grace Church. It was dedicated on May 18, 1969. The Ackerman sons gave this garden to honor their parents. Their parents were loyal members of Grace Church for many years.
The Butterfly Garden
Today, this garden is often called "the Butterfly Garden." This is because it's filled with flowers that attract many different butterflies. It's a lovely place to visit and enjoy nature. Church members can also choose to have their ashes buried in this special garden.
See also
