St. James Episcopal Church, Milwaukee
Saint James' Episcopal Church is a Gothic Revival-styled Episcopal church built in 1867 - once a parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee. In 1979 the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The church building is believe to be the oldest stone church in Milwaukee.
Saint James parish was founded in 1850 as a mission of Saint Paul's Episcopal Church. In 1851 the congregation bought the land where today's church stands, which had been the site of Kilbourntown's Spring Street Burying Ground - the first cemetery on the west side of what would become Milwaukee. Many of the early settlers were Yankees, and many prominent people were members, with the first Episcopal service held in Increase Lapham's store, and Alexander Mitchell serving on the parish's building committee.
In 1867 the congregation built the stone church of today. It was designed by Gordon William Lloyd of Detroit in an English Gothic Revival style. The main block was built first, in 1867鈥�68, with walls of Wauwautosa limestone, tall lancet openings, and clerestory windows above the side aisles. The square corner tower was added in 1870 to 1871, with corner buttresses and a wheel window that match those on the main block, and a tall broach spire topped with a cross.
A fire on December 31, 1872 destroyed the buildings interior, leaving only the walls and bell tower. The church went through a rebuilt and it was reopened on April 19, 1874. In 1899 a parish house was added.
The church is adjacent two other historical places in Milwaukee, the Saint James Court Apartments next door and the Central Library across the road. Both sites are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Over the years, the congregation dwindled until the church closed and the building was sold on November 30, 2017. In 2020 it reopened as a venue for weddings and other events.
Saint James parish was founded in 1850 as a mission of Saint Paul's Episcopal Church. In 1851 the congregation bought the land where today's church stands, which had been the site of Kilbourntown's Spring Street Burying Ground - the first cemetery on the west side of what would become Milwaukee. Many of the early settlers were Yankees, and many prominent people were members, with the first Episcopal service held in Increase Lapham's store, and Alexander Mitchell serving on the parish's building committee.
In 1867 the congregation built the stone church of today. It was designed by Gordon William Lloyd of Detroit in an English Gothic Revival style. The main block was built first, in 1867鈥�68, with walls of Wauwautosa limestone, tall lancet openings, and clerestory windows above the side aisles. The square corner tower was added in 1870 to 1871, with corner buttresses and a wheel window that match those on the main block, and a tall broach spire topped with a cross.
A fire on December 31, 1872 destroyed the buildings interior, leaving only the walls and bell tower. The church went through a rebuilt and it was reopened on April 19, 1874. In 1899 a parish house was added.
The church is adjacent two other historical places in Milwaukee, the Saint James Court Apartments next door and the Central Library across the road. Both sites are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Over the years, the congregation dwindled until the church closed and the building was sold on November 30, 2017. In 2020 it reopened as a venue for weddings and other events.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.
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St. James Episcopal Church on Map
Sight Name: St. James Episcopal Church
Sight Location: Milwaukee, USA (See walking tours in Milwaukee)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Milwaukee, USA (See walking tours in Milwaukee)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
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