Grace Episcopal Church (Jonesville, Michigan)

Grace Episcopal Church is a historic church at 360 East Chicago Street in Jonesville, Michigan. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site [2] and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.[1] It is one of the first church buildings constructed in Michigan west of Detroit, and is one of the few surviving examples of indigenous church architecture in the state.[2]

Grace Episcopal Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Michigan State Historic Site
Church in 2006
Location	360 E. Chicago St., Jonesville, Michigan
Coordinates	41°59′3″N 84°39′37″W
Area	less than one acre
Built	1848
Architectural style	Gothic, Greek Revival
NRHP reference No.	71000391[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	May 6, 1971
Designated MSHS	January 6, 1971[2]

History

In 1833, the Episcopal missionary William N. Lyster left Ireland for the United States, and eventually became the restor of a mission in Tecumseh, Michigan.[3] From there, he traveled throughout southern Michigan to minister to isolated communities; in 1836 he held the first church service in Jonesville.[2] Two years later, a parish was organized by Darius Barker. In 1844, the congregation began constructing this church; it was completed on November 15, 1848, at a cost of $3,000.

In 1946, an old schoolhouse was moved to the site of the church to serve as a parish hall.[2] The church was deconsecrated and sold in 2007, and currently houses a coffee house.[4]

Description

Grace Episcopal Church is a 1-1/2 story rectangular Greek Revival frame structure covered in clapboard.[2] The building has a single-story projecting entry vestibule, atop which is a square tower which intersects with the main structure.[3] Square pilasters run up each corner of the building, and both the entry projection and the main structure are topped with a gable roof.

Gothic double-arched lancet windows line the sides of the building, providing the building with a somewhat rare mix of Greek Revival and Gothic styles.[5] Similar single-arched windows are on each side of the entry vestibule.

Black walnut paneling lined the interior, and the pews are constructed of the same wood.[2] A small altar, also of black walnut, is set amongst frescoes.[6]

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
2. "Grace Episcopal Church". Michigan State Housing Development Authority: Historic Sites Online. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
3. Jim Schutze (November 13, 1970), NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY- NOMINATION FORM: Grace Episcopal Church
4. Nancy Hastings. "Coffee house is 'grounded in grace'". Hillsdale.net. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
5. Kathryn Bishop Eckert (1993), Buildings of Michigan, Oxford University Press, p. 20, ISBN 9780195061499
6. Writers' Program, Michigan (1973), Michigan, a Guide to the Wolverine State, North American Book Dist LLC, p. 394, ISBN 9780403021727

Further reading

• Grace Episcopal Church (Jonesville, Mich.), Historic Grace Episcopal Church