Emmanuel Episcopal Church is a historic church at 15 Newbury Street in the
Back Bay
Back Bay is an officially recognized Neighborhoods in Boston, neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, built on Land reclamation, reclaimed land in the Charles River basin. Construction began in 1859, as the demand for luxury housing exceeded the ...
neighborhood of
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...
. It was founded in 1860 as part of the
Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts is one of the nine original dioceses of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.
History
Massachusetts was founded by Puritans who did not accept such aspects of the Church of England as bisho ...
.
History
Designed by architect
Alexander Rice Esty and constructed in 1861, it was the first building completed on Newbury Street in Boston's newly filled Back Bay. In 1899,
Frederic Crowninshield
Frederic Crowninshield (1845–1918) was an American artist and author.
Life
Crowninshield was born in Boston on November 27, 1845, into the Crowninshield family.
His father was Edward Augustus Crowninshield (1817–1859) and mother was Caroline ...
designed its sanctuary's centerpiece window, in which the allegorical figure Piety, from
John Bunyan
John Bunyan (; 1628 – 31 August 1688) was an English writer and preacher. He is best remembered as the author of the Christian allegory ''The Pilgrim's Progress'', which also became an influential literary model. In addition to ''The Pilgrim' ...
's
The Pilgrim's Progress
''The Pilgrim's Progress from This World, to That Which Is to Come'' is a 1678 Christian allegory written by John Bunyan. It is commonly regarded as one of the most significant works of Protestant devotional literature and of wider early moder ...
, points the way to Emmanuel's Land.
The Leslie Lindsey Memorial Chapel, consecrated in 1924, is considered one of the architectural gems of Boston. An all-encompassing product of and testimony to the artistry of
Ninian Comper
Sir John Ninian Comper (10 June 1864 – 22 December 1960) was a Scottish architect, one of the last of the great Gothic Revival architecture, Gothic Revival architects.
His work almost entirely focused on the design, restoration and embellishm ...
, the work comprises a decorative scheme for the chapel designed by the architectural firm of
Allen & Collens
Allen & Collens was an American architectural firm based in Boston. It was initially established by architect Francis R. Allen in 1879. After two early partnerships he formed Allen & Collens in 1903 with Charles Collens. Th ...
. Comper designed its altar, altar screen, pulpit, lectern, dozens of statues, all its furnishings and appointments, and most notably the
stained glass
Stained glass refers to coloured glass as a material or art and architectural works created from it. Although it is traditionally made in flat panels and used as windows, the creations of modern stained glass artists also include three-dimensio ...
windows. The finest Gothic-revival style craftsmen were engaged for the project under the direction of
Campbell & Aldrich of Boston. The chapel memorializes Leslie Lindsey and her husband of ten days Stewart Mason, who were married at Emmanuel Church and perished when the ''
Lusitania
Lusitania (; ) was an ancient Iberian Roman province encompassing most of modern-day Portugal (south of the Douro River) and a large portion of western Spain (the present Extremadura and Province of Salamanca). Romans named the region after th ...
'' was torpedoed in 1915.
In 1966, th
Back Bay historic districtwas established, protecting any building within its boundaries from exterior changes, including this building.
Its outreach program in the early twentieth century, known as the
Emmanuel Movement, was influential in the development of
self-help groups for mental health
Self-help groups for mental health are voluntary associations of people who share a common desire to overcome mental illness or otherwise increase their level of cognitive or emotional wellbeing. Despite the different approaches, many of the psych ...
, particularly for
alcoholism
Alcoholism is the continued drinking of alcohol despite it causing problems. Some definitions require evidence of dependence and withdrawal. Problematic use of alcohol has been mentioned in the earliest historical records. The World He ...
. The church is known for hosting
Emmanuel Music
Emmanuel Music is a Boston-based collective group of singers and instrumentalists founded in 1970 by Craig Smith. It was created specifically to perform the complete cycle of over 200 sacred cantatas of J. S. Bach in the liturgical setting for wh ...
, which performs
Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach (German: �joːhan zeˈbasti̯an baχ ( – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his prolific output across a variety of instruments and forms, including the or ...
cantatas
A cantata (; ; literally "sung", past participle feminine singular of the Italian verb ''cantare'', "to sing") is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir.
The meaning ...
in their intended liturgical setting, coordinated with the
lectionary
A lectionary () is a book or listing that contains a collection of scripture readings appointed for Christianity, Christian or Judaism, Jewish worship on a given day or occasion. There are sub-types such as a "gospel lectionary" or evangeliary, ...
.
It has a cooperative, interfaith partnership with the Jewish Central Reform Temple, with which it shares the building. The clergy from the two congregations regularly offer sermons for each other's congregations, and members are invited to attend the other congregation's services.
Puppet Free Library
The church also houses the
Puppet Free Library founded by
Sara Peattie
Sara Peattie (b 1951) is a giant puppet artist and runs Boston's Puppet Free Library.
Education
Peattie is an alumna of Antioch College
Career
Peattie began her puppetry career in 1969 at the age of 18 when she studied under Peter Schumann, cof ...
and the church's rector in the 1980s, Rev. Al Kershaw.
The library is located in the basement of the church. It houses a collection of
giant puppets that can be lent to users for parades and other events. It also houses Peattie's studio. The puppets are often used by schools and in parades, including Boston's
First Night
First Night is a North American artistic and cultural celebration on New Year's Eve, taking place from afternoon until midnight. Some cities have all their events during the celebration outside, but some cities have events that are hosted indoors ...
New Year's celebration. The puppets are generic characters (e.g., giant cats, flowers, dragons),
as opposed to specific persons (e.g., Donald Trump) or characters (e.g., Pinocchio).
Clergy
* The Rev. Dr.
Frederic Dan Huntington
Frederic (or Frederick) Dan Huntington (May 28, 1819, Hadley, Massachusetts – July 11, 1904, Hadley, Massachusetts) was an American clergyman and the first Protestant Episcopal bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York.
Early life, ...
, 1st rector, 1861–1869
* The Rev. Dr.
Alexander Hamilton Vinton
Alexander Hamilton Vinton (March 30, 1852 – January 18, 1911) was first bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts from 1902 to 1911.
Education
Vinton was born on March 30, 1852, in Brooklyn, New York City, the son of David Hammon ...
, 2nd rector, 1869–77
* The Rev. Dr.
Leighton Parks, 3rd rector, 1878–1904
* The Rev. Dr. Elwood Worcester, 4th rector, 1904–1929
* The Rev. Dr.
Benjamin Martin Washburn, 5th rector, 1929–1932
* The Rev. Dr. Phillips Endicott Osgood, 6th rector, 1932–1943
* The Rev. Robert Gifford Metters, 7th rector, 1946–1956
* The Rev. Harold Bend Sedgwick, 8th rector, 1957–1962
* The Rev. Alvin L. Kershaw, 9th rector, 1962–1989
* The Rev. Michael Kuhn, 10th rector, 1991–1993
* The Rev. Dr. William Blaine-Wallace, 11th rector, 1993–2005
* The Rev. Pamela L. Werntz, 12th rector, 2008–present
Windows
Stained-glass windows by these artists can be seen in the church.
*
Ninian Comper
Sir John Ninian Comper (10 June 1864 – 22 December 1960) was a Scottish architect, one of the last of the great Gothic Revival architecture, Gothic Revival architects.
His work almost entirely focused on the design, restoration and embellishm ...
*
Charles Jay Connick
*
Frederic Crowninshield
Frederic Crowninshield (1845–1918) was an American artist and author.
Life
Crowninshield was born in Boston on November 27, 1845, into the Crowninshield family.
His father was Edward Augustus Crowninshield (1817–1859) and mother was Caroline ...
*Harry Eldredge Goodhue
*
Heaton, Butler and Bayne
Heaton, Butler and Bayne was a British firm that produced stained-glass windows from 1862 to 1953.
History
Clement Heaton (1824–1882) Fleming, John & Hugh Honour. (1977) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Decorative Arts. '' London: Allen Lane, p. 371 ...
*
Charles Eamer Kempe
Charles Eamer Kempe (29 June 1837 – 29 April 1907) was a British Victorian era designer and manufacturer of stained glass. His studios produced over 4,000 windows and also designs for altars and altar frontals, furniture and furnishings, lychg ...
*
Louis Comfort Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany (February 18, 1848 – January 17, 1933) was an American artist and designer who worked in the decorative arts and is best known for his work in stained glass. He is associated with the art nouveauLander, David"The Buyable ...
*Samuel West
*Henry Wynd Young
References
External links
Emmanuel Church, Boston Website History of the Lindsey Chapel
{{Portal, Christianity
Episcopal churches in Boston
Episcopal church buildings in Massachusetts
Religious organizations established in 1860
Back Bay, Boston
Churches completed in 1861
19th-century Episcopal church buildings
1860 establishments in Massachusetts