BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
- FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston - - - - - - 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5") Staple to left side of form Photo number CPII #26A - 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. CANAL COLUMBIA ST. (over) In Area no. Form no. 175-158 1. Town Fall River, Mass. Address Name 240 Columbia Street Santo Christo Church Present use church Present owner Santo Christo Church 3. Description: large church w/side tower Date -- 1924-1927 Source Fall River Herald News CliDs Style late Gothic Revival Architect Murphy & Hindle, Providence Exterior wall fabrie tan brick, granite, cast stone Outbuildings (describe) Other features pinnacles, buttresses, tracery, tile roof, high granite basement, cast stone trim. Altered Moved Date Date 5. Lot size: 16,994 sq. ft.
One acre or less X Over one acre Approximate frontage Approximate distance of building from street 6. Recorded by Pat Giza Organization_ FROHP Date 7/23/80 7. Original owner (if known) Santo Christo Church Original use Church Subsequent uses (if any) and dates_ 8. Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural The Arts Commerce Communication Community development X X Conservation Education Exploration/ settlement Industry Military Political Recreation Religion Science/ invention Social/ humanitarian Transportation 9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) Santo Christo Church (1924-1927) is a fine example of the Late Gothic Revival style which is historically significant as the first Catholic Church to serve the growing Portuguese population and as the largest ethnic church in Fall River.
The architects, the prominent Providence firm of Murphy and Hindle, also designed a series of early 20th century Catholic churches in Providence. For Santo Christo, they use the simple, subdued early 20th century version of the Gothic popularized by the nationally-known ecclesiastical architect Ralph Adams Cram. Of particular note are the stained glass windows and tracery, tile roof with copper coping, and cast stone pinnacles. A four-level corner tower with open belfry maximizes the impact of the building on this cramped urban site, and iron fencing also enhances the setting. The view of Santo Christo is particularly impressive when looking down the hill along Grant Street from William. The parish history can be traced back to the founding of the first Portuguese mission to the City on March 10, 1876 by Rev. Antonio de Matos Freitas, a native of Sao Jorge, St.
Michaels, Azores and at the time pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in New Bedford. During the last two decades of 19th century, Portuguese immigrants in the city were served by a series of New Bedford priests. Religious services were conducted in Hibernian Hall, St. Mary's Cathedral, St. Louis and St Joseph's. The forerunner of Santo Christo Church was a wooden structure at the corner of Columbia and Canal Streets It was a community house built by members of the First Baotist Church to serve the growing numbers of industrial workers. In 1889, the community church became a Catholic parish, the first in the city to serve the Portuguese people. Rev. Candido d'Avila Martins, the first pastor, named the church Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres (church of the Miracles.) In 1924 plans begun for construction of present structure.
The exterior was completed in 1927 but the completion of the interior-interrupted by (cont'd) 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) Fall River Herald News Church Records Sept. 30, 1976 clippings June 27, 1977 clippings Name of Architect 'INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Conmmity: Fall River, Mass. Form No: 715-53 52)1 Property Name : Santo Christo Church Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Cont'd) shortages of funds and materials and the austerities of W.W.II was not achieved until 1948. Because of its distinctive style, workmanship, intact quality and important place in Fall River church history, the Santo Christo Church meets criteria A and C of the National Register individually.
Staple to Inventory form at botton NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Item number OMBNo.1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 For NPS use onty received //69 date antered Page §ufio Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Fall River Multiple Resource Area MA Inmination/Type of Review 71. Read, Nathan, House 72. Ruggles Park 73. Sagamore Mill No. 2 74. Sagamore Mills #1 and #3 75. Sanford Spinning Co. 76. Santo Christo Church 77. Seaconnet Mills 78. Smith, John Mace, House 79. St. Anne's Church and Parisitered in the Complex National Register 80. St. Joseph's Church Entered in the Natiqpal Eegister Substantive Revlew Keeper Attest Entered In the National Register.
Keeper Entered in the National Register Attest 6Keeper Attest Entered in the National Begieter Okeeper Attest Entered In the National Rezistor Keeper Attest Enteredin the National Register Keepe Entered in the National Register Attest OKeeper Entered in the National Register Attest /Reeper Attest 6'eeper Attest K eeDt Attest Date/Signature 2/6/33 Brucahudanl 2/10/83 Aelmeßyen 2/10/83 OeleBzer sfo/83 AelouaByen efm/83 debueßozen 7/10/83 AeloraByer 2/10/83seloucBzen 70/83 AelouaByen 7/16/83 Aelousßyen 2/0/83 deloutagen NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Vatted Stato Matler BYALUATION / RETURN SHEET' Santo Christo Church (Fall River MRA) Bristol County MASSACHUSETTS rosubmission nomination by parson or local government ovnor objaction appeal Substantivo Roviow: Roviowor's commonta: Working No.. 15/83-15 Dato Duo:_ Action: Intored in the - RETURN REJECT.
National Register Fodoral Agoncy:_ _sample _raquest _ appeal _NR decision -Nomination raturned for: Rocom./Critoria. Roviower_ Disciplino. Dato. aoo continuation shoot _technical corroctions citod bølow -subatantiva roasona discussad balow 1. Name 2 Location 3. Classification Prsaams uas Walte aospatal 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description - 6. Représentation in Existing Surveys cncmn ongaos - 7. Description martere nosh eao onanarar boch ao _ _ongaann- end extopadd (ll baoral lagolad aopocronas aummary paragraph complotanoss clarity alterationa/intogrity datos boundary seloction 8.
Significance Peried Arees ef SignificanceCheck and justify below Specific dates Statoment of Siguificance (In ono paragraph) Builder Architeet summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property Quadrangie neme UMT References Verbei boundary description and justification 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: - national - state - local State Historic Preservation Officer signature date titie 13. Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to .
Signed - Date - Phone: 202 272-3504 Comments for any itemmay be continued on an attached sheet STOP Santo Christs Church 240 Columbia St. CPI #26 a FallRivo MRA, Ma Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000279