St. James Episcopal Church (Grosse Ile, Michigan) facts for kids
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St. James Episcopal Church
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Front of church showing Tiffany window
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 25150 E. River Rd., Grosse Ile, Michigan |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1867 |
| Architect | Gordon W. Lloyd |
| Architectural style | Carpenter Gothic |
| Part of | East River Road Historic District (ID74001003) |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000434 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 19, 1971 |
The St. James Episcopal Church is a historic church found in Grosse Ile, Michigan, in the United States. It's located at 25150 East River Road. This church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. It was also named a Michigan State Historic Site that same year.
Lisette Denison Forth: A Story of Freedom and Generosity
Lisette Denison Forth was born in 1786 near Detroit. She was born into a situation where she was not free. Her family was owned by William and Catherine Tucker. After William Tucker passed away, Lisette's parents gained their freedom, but Lisette and her brother did not.
Later, Lisette and her brother traveled to Canada to live there and become free. They returned to Detroit around 1815. In 1827, Lisette married Scipio Forth, who owned a business that moved goods. She became a widow about three years later.
In 1831, Lisette began working for John Biddle. He was the mayor of Detroit and started the town of Wyandotte, Michigan. During this time, Lisette bought land and put her money into businesses. She earned a good amount of profit. Lisette spent a lot of time at Biddle's home in Wyandotte. She later went with the Biddles to Philadelphia in 1849 and then to Paris.
Lisette became good friends with Eliza Biddle, John Biddle's wife. Both women were Episcopalians. They made a promise to each other that they would build a church someday.
Lisette came back to Michigan in 1856. She worked for John Biddle's son, William S. Biddle, at his home on Grosse Ile. Grosse Ile is an island known for its "beautiful homes and large estates." Many of these homes are still lived in by the families who first owned them. Lisette passed away on August 7, 1866, shortly after Eliza Biddle. She is buried in Elmwood Cemetery.
Building the Church: A Dream Comes True
When Lisette Denison Forth passed away, she left some of her money to her family. The rest, about $3,000, was meant to be used to build a church. Lisette's gift provided most of the money.
William Biddle knew his mother Eliza's wish to build a church. He added some of his own money and some of his mother's money to Lisette's contribution. William's brother, James, gave the land for the church. The brothers hired architect Gordon W. Lloyd to design the building. James Biddle also made an altar cross, a kneeling bench, and a reading stand for the minister.
Construction of the church began in 1867 and finished in 1868. The first church services were held in the spring of 1868. Rev. Moses Hunter led these services.
Bishop Samuel Allen McCoskry officially dedicated the church in July 1868. He later wrote about it, saying:
- This is a very church-like building. It shows the great skill of Mr. Lloyd, who has designed many beautiful buildings in our area. This church is the result of the hard work and dedication of a faithful Christian servant. She saved her earnings for many years for this purpose. Long before she passed away, she promised her money to the Church of Christ. This was done with the plan of someone she had served for a long time, to join her in this holy act. When that person could not complete the wish, two of her sons faithfully carried it out. They generously provided the money needed to finish the church. Now, it stands simply and beautifully, as a joint act of a Christian family, to provide a house of prayer for everyone.
In 1898, a large Tiffany glass window was added to the church. Colonel John Biddle, William's son, donated it to honor his mother, Susan. A larger church was built on the same site in 1958. The original 1867 building now serves as a chapel for the new church. The red doors of the old church are dedicated to Lisette Denison Forth, remembering her kindness and gift.
Church Design and Features
Saint James Episcopal Church is a Carpenter Gothic style building. It has a front-gable roof. The walls are made of vertical boards and battens. Decorative wooden trim, called vergeboards, lines the gables. The main entrance is on one side, under a gable. A wooden steeple sits on top of the church.
The building has beautiful stained glass windows. These are called lancet windows because they are tall and narrow. One special window is the 1898 Tiffany window, named Angel of Praise. It measures about 11 feet tall and 5 feet 6 inches wide (3.4 meters by 1.7 meters). Over the years, the church has had some repairs and additions. However, the main part of the building is still mostly original and in excellent condition.
