STATE:

Rhode Is landCOUNTY,

ProvidenceFOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER DATE

L :..:*..>: *::.COMMON: - -

Grace Church . . .

AND/OR HI5TORIC:

:.::- .. . - .

STREET AtSC NUMBER:

175 Mathewson StreetCITY OR TOWN:

Provi1ence . . . -CODE COUNTY:

Rhode Island, :02903 Ith ProvidenceCLASSIFICATION

___________________________________ ______________ ____________

C DistrictSite

C.

Building

Q StructureObject

C

C

Public

Private

Both *

jPublic Acquisition:I C In Process

Being Considered

.-.- . .. -

Occupied -

0 Unoccupiedc Preservatonwork

. in progress

CC

Yes:

Restricted

Unrestricted

No

PRESENT USE Check One or More as Appropriate .

0 IndustrialC Military -* . Religious0 Museum

Rhode Island, 02903LLOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION -. .

COURTNOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS. ETC:

City HaUSTREET AND NUMBER: . .

.

Dorrance Stréetat Washington StreetSTATE

Rhode Island, 02903

0

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0zr

Form 10-300July 1969

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESINVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM

Type all entries - completeapplicable sections

STATE

CATEGORYCheck One

OWNERSHIP

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F

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IF-

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CODE

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STATUS ACCESSIBLETO THE PUBLIC

C AgriculturalC CommercialC EducatianolC Entertainment

- C Government C Park -0 Private Residence -

OWNERS NAME:

Grace Church

C ScientiFic

o Transportation

C Other Specify

ftOWNER OF PROPERTY

______

C Comments

Providence

STREET AND NUMBER: - --‘ . : - .

l7S MathewsonStreet . .

_______________________ _____

STATE:CITY OR TOWN:

-11-4ri

CITY OR TOWN:

Providence

CODE

tli

CODE

PR F S!.I ..4J.afINExls1:irG;.su.RvETI TLE OF SURVEY:

Historic American Buildings SurveyDATE OF SURVEY: 1956 Xl Federal C State 0 County LocalDEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS:

Library of CongressSTREET AND NUMBER:

IndependenceAvenue and 1st Street, S. E. .CtTY OR TOWN: STATE: CODE

Washington . . .. District of Columbia. 11

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ILIQECRIPTIONCMckThi.

0 £mIIs.. 0..d 0 Fsl 0 D.t.,Iotctsd 0 RuIns 0 U.cnp...dCONDITION .. -.ck On$ Check Oi.

AIsr.4 0 U,Itn.d 0 Mend OrIjinol 5tj"4 DESCRIDE THE P00CM? AND ONIOSNAL If b..,U flHYSSCAL APPCARANC*

4 Grace Church rises abruptly from its crampeddowntown setting.Originally built in l8lzS and 18h6 in the heart of the residential dis-trict, the Gothic Revival church now stands so hemmed in by commercialbuildings that it is impossible to ést a full view of it from any angle.4 The secondEpiscopalian structure on Its corner site, it ts desigijedby RichardUpjohn and completed except for the thapel.to the south,finished in 1851i; and the spire, finished in 1860, in June of i8h6.

The church is lii? feet long by 82 feet wide and Is eurrouMed bya narrow anting strip. Its rectangulai, buttressedmass of reddishbrown freestone faces north and is covered by a gable roof--originallydesignedwith skylights at clerestory level which have since been removed due to maintenanceproblems. The tower and spire rise asyruretrically and picturesquely fran the::northeastconier of the church and

U,taper rapidly, by meam of corner chamfering, to a point 206 feet above

14 the street prTI

Upjohn’s tràatment.of the exterior of Grace Churchis extrenely -simile and uncluttered. The only ornamentatiOnis the rther rough texture of the brownstoneitself and a universally-applied hàod molding,with corbels, whose splaying curve grows from the wall around eachaper

* ture. The double, panelled entrancedoor with its concentrically recessedmoldings, the two short lancet windows to either side of it, andthe three tall. lancet windows clustered above it are defined in thiswa’. Hood moldings and corbels alsoset off the secondarydoor to thewest of the main door, the door and lancet windows of the tower, andthe seven large aisle windows of lancet form on either side east andwest of the church. The original treatment of the south end of the -church is impossible to ascertain, Since the. chapel built abutting it iniSLt has beenmuch rebuilt and enlarged over the years, completely obscuring any remnantsof the original design. *. - . * **. .

Entering the church through the main north door, one finds anarthex separatedfrom the body of the church by a black walnut organ

screen

canedwith three-cuspedarches and trefoils. this screenisnot, however, pirt of Upjohn’s original work. Within, the nave unfolds along the three-aisle plan. It is sevenbays long and is separated fran the east and west aisles by graceful ilith-century-style arcadessupportedon fifletted stone piers of clustered colonnettes,the cluster- * . -ing echoedby the numerousmoldings in the arches. * ce

* The nave terminates ina raised square-endedchancel, originafly* 30 feet wide by 17 feet deep and flanked by two vestry roars. In 1912

the chancel was extendedto a depth of li2 feet and remodelledby thearchitectural firm of Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson. Upjohn’s originaltreatment of the chancel had been one of strong, simple lines executedinbiack walnut--wholly consistent in texture. and austerity with thebody of the church. A set of three painted-glasslancet windows, the

See Continuation ShOt.

Form 1O-300o UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATEJuly 1969 NATIONAL PARK SERYICEH Rhode Island

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTy -Providence

INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORMFOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTFIY NUMBER OATEContinuation Sheet L

Number all anirlea

7. Description.

middle one larger than the others, rose behind a walnut communion table andabove a walnut chancel screen with carving similar to that of the organscreen. * The reading desk, pulpit, and chairs were also black walnut carvedwith Early English details.

In 1882 a new tripartite chancel window with stained glass was installed and still remains. In 1912, Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson, employingthe rich dolor of high-maintenanceEdwardian "Perpendicular" collegechapels, completed the refurbishing of the chancel. They converted theeasternvestry into an open memorial chapel and laid its floor and that ofthe chancel with colored tiles. Within the chancel they replaced the walnut furniture, moldings and panelling with stained oak. The chancel screenwas replaced by an elaborate gilded triptych. The steps, altar, pulpit,and parapet were redesigned in pink, violet and white marbles. The resultof the changes was a chance].harmonious within itself, but not particularly so with the rest of the church.

* The wooden roof-trussing of the nave rises from corhels into elaborate five-cusped arches. Above the aisles the trussing takes the form ofsimple lancet arches. The ceilings of the aisles, nave, and chancel wereoriginally plastered. The nave and chancel ceilings, due to leakage andother probloms, have seen a number of alterations. The skylights abovethe nave were removed in 1970, and its ceiling is now covered by acousticfelt. The chancel ceiling has been panelled. The woodwork of the aislewalls is simple recessedblack walnut panelling, complementingthe pews.Hood moldfrgs cap clerestory and aisle windows alike.

LL Significance. * -*

norm for most church building in America into the 20th century. GraceChurch is singularly significant as the first church in which Upjohn usedasymmetryin the overall plan.

The hiilding is as much a familiar landmark and a visual pleasure indowntown Providence, where--amongdepartmentstores--one unexpectedlycomesupon its mediaeval silhouette, as is this architect’s famous Trinity Churchin New York. It has always remained an active parish despite the factthat for years few of its communicantshave lived near Grace Church andhas been knwn for the outstanding personalities of a succession of rectorsand for the continuing high quality of its church music.

- *GPO 901.082

- C

‘

PERIODChock One or More as Appropriate * -

-: J Pre-Colunbian - LI 16th Century - 0 18th Century 0 20th Century0 15th Century - 0 17th Century - 19th Century --

SPECIFIC DATEISI Ii Applicable and Known l8h5-l8L6 - . -AREAS OF SIGNI FICANCIt -Check One or More as Appropriate * . -

-Aboriginal - - 0 Education - - 0- Political - * 9 Urban Planning- Li Prehistoric 0 Engineering 9 ReIigion/Phi 0 Other Specify

-- - - - J Historic * - -- 9 Industry -. Iosophy - . - . - . -

0 Agriculture o Invention 9 Science * * --*

Architecture 0 Landscape ] Sculpture

________________________

- - T_J Art * Architecture- J Social/Human-

_____________________________

-

0 Commerce 0 Literature - itarian

________________________

lJ Communications 9 Militory 9 Theater -UJ Conservation o Music 0 Transportation

________________________

STAT EMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE - * - - -

*

- race Church is important becauseit marks a turning-point in theecclesiastical designs of Richard Upjohn and becauseit is a good,typical example of a Gothic ;Revival church. - - - * -

-- Upjohn had designed a number of churches before 1815, including

o - his most famous and career-makingTrinity Church in New York; but none- - - - before Grace Church had departed from the classical Georgian symmetry

of rectangular mass with towers either centei’ed axially or in pairedo :positions. Upjohn, conceivably becauseof the corner site of the

church--bit more probably becauseof the romantic influence Qf thevarious 19th-century revivals and the picturesque aesthetic--placed the- tower of Grace Church asymmetrically at the -northeast cornerof the

I- mass. The ttbox" of the colonial nBeting house or "preaching church"remains; hut the uncompromisingcorner tower with its slit windows

* -* z speaks the primitivism of mediaevalcastles. Notably asymmetricalare- - two churches by Upjohn in nearby Connecticut and immediately following

"his Grace Church design--one in Norwich, 18b6-l81j9, and one in NewLii London, 181t7-l850. - . . -

- - - -

-- The plainness of the exterior is typical of Upjohn churches, asis the overall construction oP a rectangular mass with pitched roof and

* clerostory. - The interior use of the three-aisle plan and Early EnglishGothic detail is also characteristic of the bilk of Upjohn’s ecclesi-

- - astical design. * - -

It is important to note that Upjohn uses mediaeval details rather.than actual mediaeval structural principles: that he borrows corhels,clerestories and arcades, if.you will, but no flying buttresses orstructural vaulting. ConsequentlyGrace Church is a picture, ratherthan an architectural form, from the past. As such, it exemplifies thestructural "dishonesty" common to all 19th-century revivals, which firstPugin and *nn Ruskin attacked. - . - . . - -

Completed in l8b6,Grace Church,-Providence, is significant in itstypical embodiment of the Gothic Revival ecclesiastical style, whichafter Upjohn’s effective use of it becameand remained the architectural

* - - * -

-See Continuation Sheet.

- . - --

fr1MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES

Cady, John Hutchins: The Civic and Architoctural Development of Provi-ence, 1636-1950 Providence, Rhode Island, 1957, p. 126.

- Hitchcock, Henry-Russell, Jr.: Rhode Island Ardhitecture Providence,- - Rhode Island, 1939, po. 1t7-b5. - - - -- -- Huntington, Henry Barrett: A History of Grace Church .. 1829-1929 -

Providence, Rhode Island, 1931, pp. h9-57, 7li-78, 105-106,117-118,- 155-158, 170. -: - *. * - - -

Upjohn, Everard N.: Richani Upjohn: Architect and Churchman New York, -- 1939, p.7h-75. ** - - - --- - * --

a2PHIcAL ;ATA

_________

-

______ ____

LATITuDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES. LATITuDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES -

DEFINING A RECTANGLE LocATING THE PROPERTY 0 DEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF A PROPERTYOF LESS THAN TFN ACRES

CORNER LATITUDE LONGITUDER

LATITUDE LONGI TUDE

APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: Less than one acreLIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STAT.E OR

-

COUNTY BOUNDARIES -

STATE: CODE COUNTY CODE

STATE: CODE COUNTY: * - CODE

STATE: CODE - COUNTY: CODE

STATE: - CODE COUNTY: * - -- CODE

NAME AND TITLE:

-

Ancelin V. Lynch, Surveyor-ResearcherDATE

Island Histocal Preservation Commission pt. 15, 1971NUMBER:

State House, 90 Smith Street * -CITY OR TOWN: -

- Providence *-- ****** - -STATE - - CODE

Rhode Island, 02903 -* -

- As the designated State Li aison Officer for the Na-- - : -

- tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 Public Iaw

- 89-665, I hereby nominate this property for inclusion

in the National Register and certify that it has been

evaluated according to the criteria and procecbres set

I hereby certify that this property is included in the

National Register. - - - * - - - -*

-

- - - * * : - * -*forth by the National Park Service The recommended

level of significance of this nomination is:-

National state 9 Local 9

*

Chief, Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation

* - *-: : * H -

Name-

Date - -

- -

ATTEST: - -- -

--

Title - -

*

-

*- Keeper of The National Register-

Date Date

C

oP o 9 , t -o a I- * I

NW

N E..

SE -

SW

Degrees Minuts Seconds0 *.

a - -

0 - -

D - -

Degrees Minutes Seconds0 -

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--‘0 -

0 - -

Degrees Minutos - Seconds Degrees Minutes - Seconds

h9-l7.65-N - 710 2b56.0L"W

fji. FORM PREPARED BY - -

STREET AND

ORGANIZATION

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STA1NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESCOUN

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FORNPS USE ONLY

Type all entries - attach to or enclosewith photographENTRY NUMBER DATE

Z I.L’.:NAME: ..: ::..:; .:. .:: .:.. . . . . . .o OMMON: Grace Church- lAND/OR HISTORIC:

I- LL0CATNTREET AND NUMBER:

l7 MathewsonStreetCITY OR TOWN:

ProvidenceSTATE: CODE COUNTY I CODE

Rhode Island Providence

z PHOTORERENCE- IPHOTO CREDIT: Grace Church

[DATE OF PHOTO: C. l9b5-I9ôLI.1 EGATIVE FILED AT: Cony negative: Rhode Island Historical PreservationCorn

j mission, State House, 90 Smith Street, Providence, Rhode Island, 0290.JIçAtIOt’ :*. :.. ... ..*: ....

DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC.

View south through nave.

Ji

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESCOUNTY

- ProvidencePROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FORNPSUSE ONLY

Type all entries - attach to or enclosewith photographENTRY NUMBER J DATE

Z I’;. . .o COMMON: Grace Church- AND/OR HISTORIC:

I- LOCAT1ON

o iTREET AND NUMBER:l7 MathewsonStreet

CITY OR T9WN:

ProvidenceSTATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE

Rhode Island Providence 007z OTOREFERNC- ‘HOTO CREDIT: B. Christopher Bene

DATE OF PHOTO: November, 1971LU EGATIVE FILED AT: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Cornrnission, State House,w 90 Smith P1n- Rhrd TC1iid 2fl

DESCRIBE VIEw. DIRECTION. ETC.

Exterior from the north-east

iIfl

GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES

Latitude: 410 49’ 17.65" N

Longitude: 71° 24’ 56.04" W

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‘Form 10.301 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATEJuly 1969 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESCOUNTY

ProvidencePROP ERTY MAP FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER DATEType all entries - attach to or enclosewith map

Z .... . ... .... . ....

o COMMON: Grace Churon- AND/OR HISTORIC:

‘ LLOCATONSTREET AND NUM BER:

U .I7 Maihewson StreetCITY OR TOWN:

ProvidenceSTATE: CODE COUNTY: I CODE

Rhode T5land Providence J 007M*PREFERENC

ISOURCE:

-U. S. Geological Survey

[SCALE: 1: 21j,000LU _IOATE l9? ..... ... .. ... .. .

RE.Q . .. . . . .

TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS

1. Property broundaries where required.

2. North arrow.

3. Latitude and longitude reference.