Date Of Visit: December 7, 2024
Location: 385 Essex St, Salem, MA
Website: Grace Church
Not all of the buildings in the Christmas In Salem tour are homes. This part of the tour took us to the Grace Church.
Grace Church has been at its current location since 1926. Previously, it was a wooden Gothic Revival building in 1869. The original church was demolished as it was deemed inadequate for the needs of the congregation. Philip Horton Smith and Edgar Walker, both architects of Salem, constructed the stone masonry late Gothic Revival structure that exists at the location today. Four of the stained glass windows in the church were transferred from the original 1856 structure, two of which are by Tiffany.
While the church was being built, Grace Church acquired the Burill House as a Parish House. The building has been remodeled and enlarged while adding a cloistered wing to the church.
Susan Gentile’s “Heavenly Light” art project adorns the walls of the church.
If you look closely at this stained glass window, you may see some historical figures (besides the obvious one).
In the second row of the stained glass window, there are images of Martin Luther King, Ghandi and Mother Teresa.
Grace Church is involved in many activities and causes such as the Abundant Life Garden which engages children in scripture and agriculture as well as many other causes.
New England Nomad 