Nomination for St. Stephen's Memorial Church

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-300 REV. (9/77) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOR NPS USE ONLY NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM RECEIVED JUL 6 1979 SEP T 979 DATEENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS O1.0 1 NAME HISTORIC- St. Stephen's Memorial Church AND/OR COMMON St. Stephen's Episcopal Church' 2 LOCATION 3 5 6 STREET & NUMBER 74 South Common Street CITY, TOWN Lynn STATE VICINITY OF CODE 025.- .. NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Sixth COUNTY 1arEssex. CODE 009 Massachusetts.

CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY DISTRICT X BUILDING(S) STRUCTURE _SITE OBJECT OWNERSHIP PUBLIC X PRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION _IN PROCESS _BEING CONSIDERED STATUS XOCCUPIED _UNOCCUPIED -WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE XYES: RESTRICTED -YES: UNRESTRICTED -NO1 PRESENT USE AGRICULTURE -MUSEUM _COMMERCIAL -PARK _EDUCATIONAL PRIVATE RESIDENCE _ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS _GOVERNMENT _SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIAL _TRANSPORTATION IC-MILITARYO:32 _OTHER: OWNER OF PROPERTY 1)2= -JTOCO NAME St.. Stephen's Church STREET & NUMBER 74 South Common Street CITY. TOWNLynn -VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION STATE Massachusetts COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS,ETC. Essex County Registry of Deeds STREET & NUMBER Essex County Courthouse CITY.

TOWN Salem STATE Massachusetts REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Inventory of the Historic Assets of the Commonwealth #504 DATE 1978 _FEDERAL *STATE _COUNTY _LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS Massachusetts Historical Commission CITY. TOWN Boston STATE Massachusetts 7-DESCRIPTION CONDITION -EXCELLENT _GOOD FAIR DETERIORATED ._RUINS UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE _UNALTERED ALTERED CHECK ONE _ORIGINAL SITE _MOVED DATE. DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

St. Stephen's Church occupies a prominent site facing the Lynn Common at the southwest corner of South Common and Blossom Streets. Containing elements of Romanesque and Gothic Revival styles, the church has a complex plan consisting of a Latin-cross plan church hall with covered side aisles and an ambulatory along its rear (west) wall. At the structure's northwest corner is a square plan tower which contains the church's major entry. On the church's south wall, the ambulatory and a second hallway extend south, connecting to the parish house and framing a small courtyard which contains the graves of the Mudge Family. The parish house extends along an east-west axis and contains two later additions. Except for the additions, the entire building is constructed of reddish granite rubble (quarried on the Swampscott estate of Enoch Mudge) with corner, gable and window trim of red brick.

Decorative details and window tracery are of brown sandstone. The building's complex roofs are covered with red slate and have a decorative band of blue slate near the roofs' ridges. TOWER: Rising to height of 130' from a: square base (22') the tower is set north of the church hall and terminates in a steep gabled roof. At the southeast corner of the tower is a circular plan side tower with a conical roof, while on the main tower's east and west elevations are buttresses. The entry is set at the ground floor of the tower's north elevation; it consists of two vertical board doors with iron strap hinges set in a frame of receding pointed arches which are set on attached columns of polished granite. Immediately above the entry are a pair of rectangular windows which are surmounted by a single panel of carved sandstone rosettes.

Abovetthis panel is a pair of open pointed arches behind which is the belfry. a lower elongated trefoil arch and an upper trefoliate light. This arrangement is repeated on all sides of the tower except for the east elevation where the side tower allows room for only one opening at the bell landing. The tower's high gable is framed by stone pinnacles and has pointed arch openings (north and south).. East and west of the gable are gabled dormers with pointed-arch lights. CHURCH HALL: The church consists of a Latin cross plan, the nave of which extends east-west (90') and terminates in a semi-circular apse (east); the transept ends in gables on the north and south elevations. cross plan are covered and included in the church hall, giving it an overall rectangular floor plan at the ground level.

The north facade, facing South Common Street, is dominated at its center by the gable of the north transept in which is set a large pointed arch window. The window is divided by stone tracery into a rose window set above a colonnade of sandstone columns with carved sandstone panels, one of which bears the church's construction date. The window is framed on either side by buttresses. Immediately east of the transept is a gabled dormer with one pointed arch window which lights the nave. The church's east elevation, facing Blossom Street, contains the gable of the nave which rises to a stepped gable containing paired arches with bells. Extending from the end of the nave is a semi-circular apse which has evenly spaced windows (made up of paired trefoil arches) and an ornately carved sandstone cross at the first story.

Above the first story, the apse is enclosed by a conical roof which is broken mid-way by a blind colonnade. Form No. 10-300a (Kev. 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED DATE ENTERED JUL 6 1979 SEP 7 1919 CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 7 PAGE 2 The church's west elevation consists of a one-story stone wall with paired windows at its north and south ends, which provide light for the ambulatory. Above. the roof is a high hip (enclosing the nave), broken at its center by a gabled stone dormer. Centered on the dormer are two elongated windows terminating in trefoil arches with a circular light set between the arches.

Extending south from the nave is a one-story hallway, enclosed by a pitched roof; this passage encloses the west side of the interior court and provides access to the parish The south elevation of the church follows the general pattern of the north elevation except where its first story is covered by a one-story hallway (west of the transept) which connects to the parish house. The south elevation also has a dormer near its southwest corner (a position which is occupied on the north facade by the tower). PARISH HOUSE: Rectangular in floor plan (built along an east-west axis), the Parish House is a one and one-half story structure which was built in three stages. The first story of the structure's east end is constructed of granite with brick trimmings, has irregular fenestration and an original two-story gable on its south wall.

Originally this section was covered with a steeply pitched roof and small spire. In 1920, the original roof was removed and the present half-timbered second story was added. This addition contains a tri-partite window of pointed arches centered on its east end over the entry. Other fenestration of the addition corresponds to that of the original structure, below. This addition, as well as the present timbered entry porch on the structure's east end, were designed by Harold Field Kellogg. In 1956, a major addition was made to the west end of the parish house. This addition follows the same roof and wall lines as the earlier parish house, although it is built of yellow/rust glazed bricks. Windows in the 1956 addition are evenly spaced and contain metal sash. Above each window of the north and south facade are dormers which break through the line of the eaves.

This addition is not visible from the Church's Blossom Street elevation; further, it is set far back from the Church's north and west elevations, and was constructed without any alteration of the Church and its tower.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD _PREHISTORIC -1400-1499 -1500-1599 -1600-1699 -1700-1799 X 1800-1899 -1900- ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC AGRICULTURE X ARCHITECTURE XART COMMERCE _COMMUNICATIONS AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE - CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW _COMMUNITY PLANNING -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE X_RELIGION CONSERVATION LLAW -SCIENCE _ECONOMICS _LITERATURE SCULPTURE _EDUCATION _MILITARY _SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN ENGINEERING _MUSIC -THEATER _EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY TRANSPORTATION -INDUSTRY -_POLITICS/GOVERNMENT _OTHER (SPECIFY) INVENTION SPECIFIC DATES 1881 BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT Ware & VanBrunt STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE St. Stephen's Memorial Church is one of Lynn's most distinguished examples of Victorian architecture. Designed by the influential Boston firm of Ware & Van Brunt, the church was built by Enoch Reddington Mudge, a wealthy local merchant, as a memorial to his deceased children, Charles Reddington Mudge (killed at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863) and Fanny Olive Mudge. Proposals for the church were presented by two different architects to Mudge in 1880 or early 1881. From them Mudge chose the present plan. Construction began in the spring of 1881, the cornerstone was laid on May 19, 1881 and the building was completed for its dedication on November 2, 1881.

Contemporary accounts note that con- struction was closely attended by Mudge, who died after reviewing details of the building's interior decoration in October of 1881; together with his wife and two children, Mudge is buried in an enclosed courtyard between the church and the parish house. In its present condition, the church is virtually unaltered from its completion. The exterior is Gothic and Romanesque in design, constructed of granite quarried on Mudge's Swampscott estate, trimmed with red brick (facings and angles) and Nova Scotia "freestone" (weatherings and carvings). The structure is enclosed by a complex roof covered with red slate. The variety of carved stonework on the church and its state of preservation are unsurpassed in the city. In addition, the extreme height of the tower (130') and its position facing the Common make the church a major local landmark.

The church's interior retains many of its original fittings and is significant for the collaboration of major artists of the period in its design. The original alter and font (designed by Rotch & Tilden and carved by Evans & Tombs, all of Boston) have been removed as have been the original brass lighting fixtures designed by Ware & Van Brunt (illustrated in American Architect & Building News)- Nonetheless, most features remain intact, including parquet and mosaic floors, hammer-beam trusses with carved timber ends (carved by Evans & Tombs), stencilled wall decoration and a variety of decorative and pictorial stained glass. Windows depicting the Annunciation, the Ascension and the martyrdom of St. Stephen are attributed designs of "St.

Gaudens and Crowninshield" which were discussed in the American Architect and Building News of November 5, 1881: This glass which is by the Associated Artists of New York, combined under - the style of Louis C. Tiffany & Co., marks distinctly the beginning of a new era in decorative glass; it is the most monumental example of the art yet attempted in this country.

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Memorial of St. Stephén's Parish. Lynn: printed by order of the Vestry, 1882. The Making of St. Stephen's Parish, 1844-1969. (no imprint). American Architect & Building News. vol. X, No. 306, Nov. 5, 1881. Withey, Henry. Dictionary of American Architects, Deceased. Los Angeles: Hennessey & Ingalls, Inc., 1970 (reprint). pp. 632-633 614-615. 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA 74,816 sq. ft. ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY QUADRANGLE NAME - Lynn UTM REFERENCES AL119/ 13/319/11210 ZONE EASTING 4 tatsa IORTHIN 1:24000 QUADRANGLE SCALE ZONE - EASTiNG NORTHI LIL NORTHING LALLL LiLIL GLILU VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION LILL FLi HLJLL please refer to the attached assesor's map on which the boundaries are deliniated.

Lot #1 of Block #735 on assessor's sheet #26 LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE CODE COUNTY CODE STATE CODE COUNTY CODE 11 FORM PREPARED BY NAME/ TITLE Brian Pfeiffer, consulta City of Lynn Candace Jenkins, National Register Coordinator with ORGANIZATION DATE Massachusetts Historical Commission April 1979 STREET & NUMBER TELEPHONE 294 Washington Street (617) 727-8470 CITY OR TOWN STATE Boston Massachusetts 12 STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE IS: NATIONAL STATE.

LOCAL As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665), 1 hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Seryice. STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE Polua LVestwst 6/25/79 TITLE Executive Director, Mass. Historical Commission FOR NPS USE ONLY T HEREBY CERTIEY THAT THIS PROPERY IS INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER KEEPER OF THE NATIONAL ATTEST varaut CHIEF OF-RECISTGATION REGISTER hull ulug DATE DATE DATE 9-7-79 5|4/79 GPO 921-803 Form No. 10-300a (Hev.

10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTOR Y -- NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED JUL 6 1979 DATE ENTERED SEP 71979 CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 8 PAGE 2 The building's architects are, as a partnership and individually, important in the development of American architecture in the late nineteenth century. William R. Ware was born in 1832 and received architectural training at the Lawrence Scientific and Technical School in Cambridge, Massachusetts and in the office of E.C. Cabot of Boston. In 1865, he was sent by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to study the method of architectural training at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris and, in 1866, he returned to M.I.T. to establish the first school of architecture in the United States.

In 1881, Ware accepted a professor- ship at Columbia University where he was instrumental in the development of a program of architectural training. Henry Van Brunt was born in 1832 and received architectural training in the office of George Snell of Boston and, later, in the atelier of Richard Morris Hunt of New York. From 1865 until some time around 1881, Ware & VanBrunt maintained a partnership during which they designed the First Unitarian Church in Boston, Memorial Hall at Harvard University and St. John's Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. From 1881 until 1886, Van Brunt carried on a practice in Boston with Frank Howe; after 1886 the firm moved to Kansas City. Missouri. As St.

Stephen's Church was designed during the dissolution of Ware & Van Brunt and as a number of contemporary sources refer to Van Brunt, alone as the architect of the building, it is possible that ware had little or no hand in the design. Prior to the 1870's, the history of the Episcopal church in Lynn had been one of failing efforts to establish a congregation. Around 1818-1819 an effort was made to organize the town's first Episcopal congregation under the name of St. John's; however. within five years the small congregation had switched its al- legiance to Unitarianism. By 1834, a second congregation (Christ Church) had formed a Greek Revival style church was built on North Common Street in 1837. In 1841. the second church was sold and the congregation dissolved. In 1844, Stephen's congregation was formed and the former Christ Church was purchased.

Much of the church's financial support came from wealthy summer residents of the Lynn Beach area and Nahant; although, the church remained active between 1844 and 1876, its following was small. Soon after the hiring of Louis DeCormis as pastor in 1876, the congregation began to grow, partially as a result of DeCormis's personal popularity. By the later 1870's, the congregation had outgrown the existing church and created the need for the present structure. 59 2 NNA7 13381S NOWWOO 6982 4264 3708 3653 06 NOWWOO 9680 86093 74,816 HINOS 6232 2070 1965 SAZZ 35.15 8137 2382 85.30 6-8 34.55 69.62 16 5287 *88 4126 #12 3248 CD 2856 $16 2666 188 2050 *18A 3926 49.79 20 21 11,084 51.64 22-26 245.59 221.63 Lot# 1 of Block 735 St.

Stephen's Church 3437 t82i 2488 C-PtB 3138 Bid tzt2 88'68 21 54.72 SOI 4800- 6800 3550 3646 988'92 Parcel7E/ 950 Std 7833 40 28 35.57 32 33-35 72.91 89 9492 58.45 36 42.50 42 6935 46 SHEPARD 39-41 47-47A 49-49A 91.85 73.68 50 51-53 59.71 429.52 laLa BLOSSOM TAKEN FROM: LYNN ASSESSORS' MAPS SHEET #26 JUL 6 NATIONAL REGISTER 99 1S 6759 {9261 {ts'si 48.70 58 218+ 55-552 65.08 48.70 62 STREET 61-6IA 63 65-67 50.08 72.28 VOM Gi6l SOUTi COMMON STREET St. Stephen's Church Lynn, Mass. Sketch Map Not to scale ITRANSCEPT1 AMBULATORY TRANCEDTI 1960 ADDITION PARIH HOUSE APsE NORTH JUL 6 NATIONN REGISTER CEIVED 1979 INTTTET SEP 7 1979 Property St. Stephens memorial Church State ass. (Essel Working Number2.

6.79./634 TECHNICAL Photos - CONTROL pl where it is an iuportant OK 7.9.79 Tis major ecclesiastical shructuue faces the fynn coumon d bain HISTORIAN of the setting by virtue of its mass and its tall tower. The varitg of Accapt stonework displayed is unsurpassed in the cit. Designed by Heury van Brunt, this chuuch is the only beuld ing attrbuted to van Brun Oulup 9/4/19 hismsely rather than his fira Woe+ Vau ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN reviewed plausfos intercor texterin. ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory Review . REVIEW UNIT CHIEF Gccpt Cluluy s15171 BRANCH CHIEF KEEPER 1979 National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 10-2-72 Send-back Re-submit Entered United States Department of the Interior - Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service pemoual St. Stephen's/Church Lynn, Mass. Brian Pfeiffer, 1979 Lynn Community Development Dept.

Photo #1 View facing southwest kssen Cos JUL 6 1979 SEP 7 1979 View-Tacig south west Lynn - St. Steghen's Church- 17° HELEN FORESMAN SPENCER MUSEUM OF ART THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS LAWRENCE, KANSAS 66045, MAX 8 1979 2 March 1979 REv MASS. HIST. COMM, Massachusetts Historical Commission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 Gentlemen : JUL 6 1979 NATIONAL REGISTER LTSTE I was recently delighted to hear that Saint Stephen's Memorial Church in Lynn, Massachusetts has been nominated for the National Register of Historic Places. I am eager to write at this time in support of that nomination. I would, in fact, be hard put to think of another building more deserving of preservation. Having recently completed a major study of the building's architect, Henry Van Brunt, I can testify to the unique importance of Saint Stephen's Church within the oeuvre ofthe architect.

Van Brunt began his career in 1863 in partnership with William R. Ware in Boston. He practiced actively as one of the most distinguished and respected members of his profession until his death in 1903. Saint Stephen's Church comes at a decisive moment in Van Brunt's career. In 1881 Ware departed from the partnership to found the Architectural School at Columbia University; he was replaced by a former Ware and Van Brunt apprentice, Frank Howe. In studying his works of the firms of Ware and Van Brunt and Van Brunt and Howe it is frequently difficult to determine which partner designed a given structure. The sole build- ing which can on the basis of existing documents be attributed with absolute assurance to Van Brunt himself is Saint Stephen's Church. As such it is a uniquely important structure for the definition of this major architect's style.

Even without this documentary interest, Saint Stephen's Church would be a worthy inclusion on the National Register. The Church is certainly one of the major ecclesiastical structures built in the Boston area during the last third of the nineteenth century--rivaled only by such works as H. H. Richardson's Trinity Church. The building is both a highly personal example of Van Brunt's architecture and a valuable document for the tastes of its times. Equally extraordinary is the fact that the Church remains in the midst of a decaying community in almost unaltered condition. A recent improvement in the Church's own finances, I understand, has at lastprovided a tangible means to enable the Parish to preserve this outstanding building. I can not urge you strongly enough to act favorably on this nomination. Sincerely yours, wgHumune William J.

Hennessey Curator ard Assistant Professor of Art History TELEPHONE (913) 864-4710 WJH:clc -2 <3 Saint Stephen's Memorial Church 74 South Common Street at Blossom Lynn, Massachusetts 01902 Office telephone (617) 599-4220 RECEIVED JUL 6 1979 NATIONAL REGISTER March 6, 1979 Ms. Candace Jenkins National Register Coordinator Massachusetts Historical Conmission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 Dear Ms. Jenkins: We are absolutely delighted that St. Stephen's Memorial Church has been nominated to the National Register of Historical Places. It is indeed a sig- nificant building and one that should be preserved. I understand that our Historian, Mrs. John S. C. Morgan (Mary), has sent further information to you. If any additional information is required, please do not hesitate to contact us. With every best wish,Iam Faithfully yours, 1 elia B.Lausa The Rev. William B.

Lawson Rector WBL/eb Enc. (1) P.S. Please note the correction in our official name and also address. RECEIVED MAR 9 1979 HIST. COMM. BRARONA SS MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Office of the Secretary of State 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 617-727-8470 MICHAEL JOSEPH CONNOLLY Secretary of State June 25, 1979 Mr. Ronald Greenberg, Acting Chief Registration Branch OAIP, Heritage, Conservation & Recreation Service 140 G Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20243 Dear Mr. Greenberg: ALELIE RECEIVED JULG 1979 NATIONAL REGISTER Enclosed you will find the following nomination forms: - BOSTON -- Arthur J. Lynn (Schooner) - HANOVER - / Stetson House: - LANRENCE - Downtown Lawrence Historic District - LYNN - Lynn Armory - LYNN - St.

Stephen's Church - SOUTHBRIDGE - Center Village Historic District All have been voted eligible by the State Review Board and have been signed by the State Historic Preservation Officer. Sincerely, Christire Bonthir Christine Boulding Survey Director CB/leaf Encl: TT ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER MASSACHUSETTS STATE Date Entered SEP T 1979 Name Stetson House Centre Village Historic District St. Stephen's Memorial Church Lynn Armory Location Hanover Plymouth County Southbridge Worcester County Lynn Essex County Lynn Essex County Also Notified Honorable Paul G. Tsongas Honorable Edward M. Kennedy Honorable Gerry. E. Studds Honorable Edward P. Boland Honorable Nicholas Mavroules State Historic Preservation Officer Mrs. Patricia L. Weslowski Executive Director Massachusetts Historical Conmission 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 NR Byers/bjr 9/12/79