St. Luke's and St. Margaret's Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Luke's and St. Margaret's Church
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5-7 St. Luke's Rd., Boston, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1895 |
| Architect | Francis Allen Harry E. Davidson, et al. |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 97001472 |
| Added to NRHP | November 12, 1997 |
St. Luke's and St. Margaret's Church was an Episcopal church in the Allston neighborhood of Boston. It closed its doors in 2010.
The Story of St. Luke's and St. Margaret's Church
This church was formed when two older churches decided to join together. Let's look at the history of each one.
St. Margaret's Church: A Church with Deep Roots
St. Margaret's Church started in 1862. It was located in a nearby area called Brighton Center, which was a separate town back then. The people who founded St. Margaret's were connected to another church in Boston called Church of the Advent. Because of this, St. Margaret's also followed a style of worship known as Anglo-Catholic.
St. Luke's Church: A New Church for a Growing Area
St. Luke's Church was founded later, in 1892, in the Allston neighborhood. Allston was growing quickly at that time, with many people working in office jobs moving there. St. Luke's was the only church in its area started by Bishop Phillips Brooks. He was a very famous preacher who wrote the song "O Little Town of Bethlehem".
The first building for St. Luke's was built in 1895. It was located at the corner of Brighton Avenue and St. Luke's Road. A house for the church's leader, called a rectory, was built next door. In 1915, a larger church building was constructed right next to the first one. The original church building was then used as a community hall for events. St. Luke's had a simpler style of worship, often called "low church."
Two Churches Become One: The Merger
In the 1950s and 1960s, fewer people attended both churches. Many members moved out of Boston. Because of this, in 1967, St. Luke's and St. Margaret's decided to merge. They combined their congregations at the St. Luke's location. The buildings that belonged to St. Margaret's were then sold.
The combined church still faced challenges, but it saw a boost in attendance and activities in the 1980s and 1990s. This growth began when Mary Glasspool became the church's leader. She later became an important leader in the Anglican Communion.
The Church's Closing
In the 2000s, the number of members started to decrease again. The church went from being a full parish to a smaller "mission." In February 2010, the church leaders announced that the mission would close. However, they decided to keep the property. They planned to use it for a program called the "Micah Project." This program offers a place for young adults to live and learn.
The final service for St. Luke's and St. Margaret's Church was held on May 23, 2010. This day is known as the feast of Pentecost. Several past and present church leaders attended the service, including Bishop Glasspool.
Exploring the Church Buildings
The buildings of St. Luke's and St. Margaret's Church are located at 5-7 St. Luke's Road. They include the main church building (sanctuary), the community hall, and the rectory (the house for the church leader).
Architectural Style and Design
The community hall and the rectory are built in a style called "Tudorbethan." This style looks like old English houses with half-timbered walls. The main church building looks like an English country church, but it is made of brick.
The original chapel, which became the upper part of the community hall, and the rectory were designed in 1895 by Francis Allen. The larger main church building was designed in 1913 by Harry E. Davidson. All these buildings together were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. This means they are important historical places.
Beautiful Stained-Glass Windows
The church has many beautiful stained-glass windows.
- One window shows the Last Supper. It was made in an English style by George W. Spence of Boston. It is located above the altar.
- A series of windows in the upper part of the church shows scenes from the life of Christ. These were started by the Charles J. Connick studio and finished by the Whittemore studio.
- Two other series of windows, also by the Connick studio and finished by Whittemore, show the Apostles and Prophets.
- A very special large window is on the east wall. It was made by the famous Tiffany studio in New York. This window shows St. John on the island of Patmos. It was the first stained-glass window in the church. It was moved and restored in the 1990s.
See also
