Saint Paul's Church, Chapel, and Parish House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Saint Paul's Church, Chapel, and Parish House
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Saint Paul's Church
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 15 and 27 Saint Paul St. and 104 Aspinwall Ave., Brookline, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1851 |
| Architect | Upjohn, Richard; Schweinfurth, Julius |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| MPS | Brookline MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 85003312 |
| Added to NRHP | October 17, 1985 |
Saint Paul's Church, Chapel, and Parish House is a group of old buildings in Brookline, Massachusetts. This special place includes a church, a chapel, and a parish house. The church building was designed in a style called Gothic Revival by Richard Upjohn. It was built between 1851 and 1852. This church is the oldest religious building still standing in Brookline. Because of its history, the whole group of buildings was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
Contents
Exploring Saint Paul's Church Buildings
The Saint Paul's Church buildings are located where Saint Paul Street and Aspinwall Avenue meet in Brookline. This spot is between two busy areas, Coolidge Corner and Brookline Village.
The Church Building's Design
The church itself is mostly shaped like a rectangle. It has a tall tower that sticks out from its northwest corner. The main door is on the long south side, near the west end. This entrance is inside a special section with a pointed, Gothic-style arch and a steep roof.
The walls of the church are made from a type of stone called puddingstone. The main roof is also pointed and made of colorful slate tiles. The building shows many classic features of the Gothic Revival style. These include tall, narrow windows with pointed tops, called lancet-arched windows. There are also windows made of three parts with fancy stone patterns, known as tracery. The tower also has detailed stonework.
A Look Back: History of Saint Paul's
The church's story began in 1849 when William and Augustus Aspinwall started the Episcopalian group. Augustus Aspinwall even gave the land for the church to be built on.
Richard Upjohn was chosen in 1850 to design the church. It was finished two years later. The chapel, which is also part of the complex, was designed by Upjohn too. It was built in 1858. Later, in 1880, the chapel was made bigger by Peabody and Stearns. The parish house, another building in the group, was designed by Julius Schweinfurth and built in 1895.
In 1976, the church building was badly damaged by a fire. However, it was rebuilt and restored between 1979 and 1980. As mentioned, this church is the oldest religious building in Brookline.
Saint Paul's Church Today
Today, St. Paul's Episcopal Church is an active church. It serves the communities of Brookline, nearby Boston, Massachusetts, and the areas around them. It is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts.
The church holds two regular services on Sunday mornings. It is well-known for its programs for children and young adults. It also has a strong music program with a choir. The church is involved in many community projects outside its own building. The current leader of the church is the Reverend Doctor Paul Kolbet. He took over from the Right Reverend Jeffrey Mello.
More to Explore
- Saint Paul's Rectory
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Brookline, Massachusetts
