Grace Memorial Episcopal Church (Wabasha, Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Grace Memorial Episcopal Church
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The Grace Memorial Episcopal Church from the southwest
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 205 East 3rd Street, Wabasha, Minnesota |
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| Area | Less than one acre |
| Built | 1900 |
| Built by | Cass Gilbert |
| Architectural style | English Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003062 |
| Designated | February 4, 1982 |
The Grace Memorial Episcopal Church is a beautiful old church in Wabasha, Minnesota. It was built in 1900. This church is special because of its amazing design and its history. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This means it's an important building worth protecting. A famous architect named Cass Gilbert designed it.
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Exploring Grace Memorial Church's Design
Grace Memorial Episcopal Church is a one-story building. It has a special shape called a cruciform plan. This means it looks a bit like a cross from above. The church was designed in the style of English Gothic architecture. Its walls are made of stone, laid in a natural, uneven way.
Key Features of the Church's Exterior
The main ends of the roof, called gables, have stone caps. These caps are topped with Celtic crosses. The roof itself is made of slate, a strong, flat stone.
The church has two main parts that stick out from the front. Each of these parts has a door. The main entrance has a decorated bargeboard, which is a fancy board along the edge of the roof. It also has a pointed arch, typical of Gothic style. Above this entrance is a small tower called a belfry, where a bell might be.
The other entrance has a unique look. It features half-timbering, which means wooden beams are visible on the outside. The spaces between these beams are filled with cobblestones.
Inside the Church: Stained Glass Wonders
The church is famous for its many stained glass windows. These windows are set in Gothic-style frames. Stone supports called buttresses stand next to them. The largest window is on the northwest side of the church.
The most famous window is at the southeast end, near the altar. It is called "Three Marys at the Tomb". This beautiful window was made by Tiffany Studios. It shows the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene at the tomb on Easter morning. This special window cost $3000 when it was made.
The History Behind Grace Memorial Church
This church was built for a very special reason. A lumberman named Thomas Irvine, from Saint Paul, Minnesota, paid for it. He wanted to replace an older church in Wabasha. More importantly, he wanted the new church to be a memorial. It was built to honor his wife, Emily Hills Irvine, and her parents. Emily's father, Horace Hills, was a reverend (a church leader) at the original Grace Episcopal Church from 1872 to 1877.
