Church of the Holy Cross (Middletown, Rhode Island)
October 18, 2023
The Church of the Holy Cross in Middletown, Rhode Island, is a parish church of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island of The Episcopal Church. The church is located at 1439 West Main Road, Middletown, Rhode Island. It is an early example of Richard Upjohn's work in translating Gothic architecture from stone to affordable designs for small, wooden churches. Built in 1845, Holy Cross Church exemplifies the architecture made accessible by the publication in 1852 of Upjohn's book, Rural Architecture. In its survey of Middletown's architectural resources, the Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission recommended the Church of the Holy Cross for inclusion in the National Register, along with Upjohn's more luxurious Italianate Hamilton Hoppin House.[1]
A 1-story, end-gable, Gothic Revival structure with patterned-shingle sides, a projecting pedimented entry, square belfry in front and stained-glass Gothic windows.
HistoryEdit
Holy Cross Church was designed by Mr. Richard Upjohn, an Englishman, who also designed Trinity Church in New York and St. Stephen's and Grace Church in Providence, Rhode Island. Upjohn was commissioned to build three Episcopal churches on Aquidneck Island, the other two being St. Mary's in Portsmouth and the now demolished Old Emmanual Church in Newport.[2] At its consecration on October 14, 1845, Bishop Henshaw said, "Rustic in its exterior, but so chaste in its interior finish, and so perfect in its proportion, that it is more imposing in its religious impression and far better adapted to its sacred use than many buildings of far greater cost and pretensions."
From the church history:
"The Church of the Holy Cross had its beginnings specifically with two people, Miss Sarah Gibbs and John Henry Gilliat and possibly indirectly with a third person, Miss Cynthia Taggart, also with the unnamed people who welcomed the opportunity to attend religious services near their homes. In the early 1840s, Miss Gibbs became interested in bringing religious services and instruction to her neighbors. In November 1843, at the invitation of Rev. Francis Vinton, rector of Trinity Church, the Rev. Hobart Williams arrived in South Portsmouth to organize a mission. Miss Gibbs invited Rev. Williams to make his home at Oakland. Services were held at Oakland, a nearby school house, at homes of neighbors and in a school house on Middle Road in Portsmouth. In the spring of 1844 the attendance at the morning services became too large for the small school house and was transferred to Oliphant School on West Main Road in Middletown. On the first Sunday after Easter, April 14, 1844, Morning prayer was publicly offered in that place for the first time. Services were continued until the fall of the same year. The growing religious interest in the neighborhood now seemed to justify the building of a free chapel to provide a place where services could be held in the middle of the island. In April 1845, Mr. John H. Gilliat purchased from Thomas George Rogers, a brother-in-law of Cynthia Taggart, 1/2 acre of land on the South corner of Oliphant Lane and West Road for $75. Mr. Richard Upjohn, an Englishman, was employed as the architect. Mr. Upjohn had designed Trinity Church in New York and St. Stephen's Church and Grace Church in Providence. The Church was built with the gift from Mr. Gilliat of $2,145. Others gave $283.50 for the site and some special interior furnishings."
^ "Historic and Architectural Resources of Middletown, Rhode Island: A Preliminary Report". Providence, Rhode Island: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission. 1979.
^Yarnall, James L. (2005). Newport Through Its Architecture: History of Styles from Postmedieval to Postmodern. Newport, Rhode Island: Salve Regina University Press. ISBN978-1-58465-491-9.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Church of the Holy Cross (Middletown, Rhode Island).
External linksEdit
on diocese website
October 18, 2023
church, holy, cross, middletown, rhode, island, church, holy, cross, middletown, rhode, island, parish, church, episcopal, diocese, rhode, island, episcopal, church, church, located, 1439, west, main, road, middletown, rhode, island, early, example, richard, u. The Church of the Holy Cross in Middletown Rhode Island is a parish church of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island of The Episcopal Church The church is located at 1439 West Main Road Middletown Rhode Island It is an early example of Richard Upjohn s work in translating Gothic architecture from stone to affordable designs for small wooden churches Built in 1845 Holy Cross Church exemplifies the architecture made accessible by the publication in 1852 of Upjohn s book Rural Architecture In its survey of Middletown s architectural resources the Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission recommended the Church of the Holy Cross for inclusion in the National Register along with Upjohn s more luxurious Italianate Hamilton Hoppin House 1 Church of the Holy CrossChurch of the Holy Cross Middletown RILocationMiddletown Rhode Island USDenominationEpiscopalianWebsitehttp www churchoftheholycross org HistoryFounded1843Dedicated1845ArchitectureArchitect s Richard UpjohnYears built1844AdministrationDistrictAquidneck DeaneryDioceseEpiscopal Diocese of Rhode Island Contents 1 Description 2 History 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDescription EditA 1 story end gable Gothic Revival structure with patterned shingle sides a projecting pedimented entry square belfry in front and stained glass Gothic windows History EditHoly Cross Church was designed by Mr Richard Upjohn an Englishman who also designed Trinity Church in New York and St Stephen s and Grace Church in Providence Rhode Island Upjohn was commissioned to build three Episcopal churches on Aquidneck Island the other two being St Mary s in Portsmouth and the now demolished Old Emmanual Church in Newport 2 At its consecration on October 14 1845 Bishop Henshaw said Rustic in its exterior but so chaste in its interior finish and so perfect in its proportion that it is more imposing in its religious impression and far better adapted to its sacred use than many buildings of far greater cost and pretensions From the church history The Church of the Holy Cross had its beginnings specifically with two people Miss Sarah Gibbs and John Henry Gilliat and possibly indirectly with a third person Miss Cynthia Taggart also with the unnamed people who welcomed the opportunity to attend religious services near their homes In the early 1840s Miss Gibbs became interested in bringing religious services and instruction to her neighbors In November 1843 at the invitation of Rev Francis Vinton rector of Trinity Church the Rev Hobart Williams arrived in South Portsmouth to organize a mission Miss Gibbs invited Rev Williams to make his home at Oakland Services were held at Oakland a nearby school house at homes of neighbors and in a school house on Middle Road in Portsmouth In the spring of 1844 the attendance at the morning services became too large for the small school house and was transferred to Oliphant School on West Main Road in Middletown On the first Sunday after Easter April 14 1844 Morning prayer was publicly offered in that place for the first time Services were continued until the fall of the same year The growing religious interest in the neighborhood now seemed to justify the building of a free chapel to provide a place where services could be held in the middle of the island In April 1845 Mr John H Gilliat purchased from Thomas George Rogers a brother in law of Cynthia Taggart 1 2 acre of land on the South corner of Oliphant Lane and West Road for 75 Mr Richard Upjohn an Englishman was employed as the architect Mr Upjohn had designed Trinity Church in New York and St Stephen s Church and Grace Church in Providence The Church was built with the gift from Mr Gilliat of 2 145 Others gave 283 50 for the site and some special interior furnishings See also Edit nbsp Christianity portalCarpenter GothicReferences Edit Historic and Architectural Resources of Middletown Rhode Island A Preliminary Report Providence Rhode Island Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission 1979 Yarnall James L 2005 Newport Through Its Architecture History of Styles from Postmedieval to Postmodern Newport Rhode Island Salve Regina University Press ISBN 978 1 58465 491 9 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Church of the Holy Cross Middletown Rhode Island External links EditChurch page on diocese website Town of Middletown History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Church of the Holy Cross Middletown Rhode Island amp oldid 1170593907, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
