| Historic Name: |
Christ Episcopal Church |
Common Name: |
|
| Style: |
Other |
Neighborhood: |
University |
| Built By: |
William R. Grant, architect |
Year Built: |
1914 |
| |
| Significance |
|
|
|
The Christ Episcopal Church began as the All Saint's Mission on All Saint's Day, November 1, 1903. At first, the group met at Sherrick's Hall above a drug store at NE 42nd Street and University Way NE. The first chapel was built on the southeast corner of NE 47th Street and Brooklyn, and the first church was built a few years later on the same site, in 1909. In 1913, the name was changed to Christ Episcopal Church. In 1914, the first church building was moved to the south side of the lot and remodeled into a parish hall, and the present church, designed by William R. Grant, was erected on the corner.
In 1931, the old parish hall was given to the Northeast YMCA for use as a gymnasium. The building was moved to NE 50th Street and 12th Avenue NE. To assist the church financially during the Depression, the corner site was leased to Shell Oil Company for a gas station. Subsequently in 1939, the present church was moved to the south portion of the property. The basement was added at the time the building was moved. In 1954, a new Church House was built on the corner to provide a Sunday school, meeting rooms, and offices. The Church House was designed by William R. Grant & Son, architects. Although plans for a new sanctuary were drawn at the same time, the parish decided to hold off on this, and instead the exterior of the building was reclad in brick to give it an updated look. The interior is relatively intact and retains the feeling of an early wood-frame church. The interior was restored during the 1990s. Father Steve Garratt is the current rector.
Seattle architect William R. Grant designed the Ballard Building in 1927, home of the fraternal order of Eagles. He worked as an architect in Seattle from 1911 -1954, in partnership with his son from 1947-1954.
|
|
| |
| Appearance |
| The Christ Episcopal Church is a relatively simple wood-frame church building that has been reclad in brick. The interior, with its dark wood ceiling and bracing and white beadboard below, retains much of the original character of the 1914 church building. Many of the lights appear to be older and may be original. The stained glass windows on the north and south elevations are less elaborate and older than the windows on the east and west elevations. The two colored stained glass windows on the west elevation date from the 1980s, but the large window in the middle of the gable end is probably original. The stained glass in the apse is also relatively new. The pews have recently been replaced.
The modern Christ Church house, built in 1954, includes the Father John Vruwink Memorial Chapel and is connected on the east end with the main church building. There is an attractive landscaped courtyard between the parish hall and the church. |
|
|
| Status: |
Yes - Inventory |
| Classication: |
Building |
District Status: |
|
| Cladding(s): |
Brick |
Foundation(s): |
Concrete - Poured, Post & Pier |
| Roof Type(s): |
Gable |
Roof Material(s): |
Asphalt/Composition |
| Building Type: |
Religion - Religious facility |
Plan: |
Irregular |
| Structural System: |
Balloon Frame/Platform Frame |
No. of Stories: |
one |
| Unit Theme(s): |
Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Religion |
| Integrity |
|
Changes to Plan: |
Slight |
|
Changes to Windows: |
Slight |
|
Changes to Original Cladding: |
Extensive |
|
| Major Bibliographic References |
|
City of Seattle DCLU Microfilm Records.
|
|
King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives.
|
|
Nielsen, Roy. UniverCity: The Story of The University District in Seattle. Seattle: University Lions Foundation, 1986.
|
|
Christ Episcopal Church, 75th Anniversary, History, 1978.
|
|
|
