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Episcopal Church of the Nativity (Huntsville, Alabama)
Encyclopedia
Episcopal Church of the Nativity is a church in Huntsville, Alabama
. It was built in the Gothic Revival
style in 1859. It is noted as one of the most pristine examples of Ecclesiological Gothic architecture in the South
. It is also one of the least-altered structures by architect Frank Wills
and one of only thirteen surviving houses of worship designed by him in the United States
. It was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1990.
and saw the construction of Trinity Episcopal Church
, designed by Frank Wills
and Henry Dudley
. Afterwards he chose the same firm to design the new sanctuary for his church, the original building had been completed in 1847 and was already inadequate for the needs of the congregation. The vestry
acquired two lots, adjacent to the original church, at the corner of Eustis Avenue and Green Street for $3923 later in 1856.
A building committee worked over the three years to raise the necessary funds for construction by subscription, while construction progressed. They had hired a local builder, Hugh N. Moore, to construct the building. Because Moore was not familiar with certain techniques of construction for Gothic architecture, Lay wrote to Wills early in 1857 to request assistance and a Mr. Mason was sent to Huntsville to supervise the construction. Wills died in April of that year and his partner, Dudley, took over. Construction continued and by December 1858 the windows had been installed. The congregation held the first services in the building on the eve of Easter
, 23 April 1859. The building was estimated to have had a total cost of roughly $37,565.
style inspired by 14th century English
architecture. The church is built in brick and is an aisled nave
-and-chancel
structure with a monumental bell tower. The sanctuary measures 54 feet (16.5 m) by 100 feet (30.5 m) with the ridge-line of the roof 50 feet (15.2 m) above the floor. The long sides of the building each feature six buttress
ed bays
. Each bay contains a traceried
window. The tracery produces a pair of trefoil
-arch lancets topped by a quatrefoil
. The front gable
of the building features a 8 feet (2.4 m) by 15 feet (4.6 m) traceried window over the entrance. The three-stage bell tower is also buttressed and measures 18 feet (5.5 m) square and 151 feet (46 m) to the top of the octagonal spire
. It features lancet and trefoil windows.
The interior is entered through double wooden doors that appear to be original to the building, set within a lancet arch
. The interior walls are plastered brick; the floors are heart pine, covered with carpet. The ceiling is wood paneled, with the exposed structural oak timbers forming an arched pattern. The apse
is a semi-octagonal projection with three large figural
lancet windows that retain their original stained and painted glass. The apse ceiling is a ribbed segmental arch vault
. The ribs are decorated and feature plaster boss caps at their apex.
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
. It was built in the Gothic Revival
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
style in 1859. It is noted as one of the most pristine examples of Ecclesiological Gothic architecture in the South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
. It is also one of the least-altered structures by architect Frank Wills
Frank Wills (architect)
Frank Wills was a British-born architect who is associated with the design of early Gothic Revival churches in North America.-Biography:Frank Wills was born in Exeter, Devon England in 1822, where he started working under John Hayward, he was a member of the Exeter Architectural Society, and his...
and one of only thirteen surviving houses of worship designed by him in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1990.
History
The history of the present Episcopal Church of the Nativity begins in January 1856 when Henry C. Lay, the minister for the church, was in MobileMobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
and saw the construction of Trinity Episcopal Church
Trinity Episcopal Church (Mobile, Alabama)
Trinity Episcopal Church is a historic church in Mobile, Alabama, United States. It was the first large Gothic Revival church built in Alabama. The design was by architects Frank Wills and Henry Dudley.-History:...
, designed by Frank Wills
Frank Wills (architect)
Frank Wills was a British-born architect who is associated with the design of early Gothic Revival churches in North America.-Biography:Frank Wills was born in Exeter, Devon England in 1822, where he started working under John Hayward, he was a member of the Exeter Architectural Society, and his...
and Henry Dudley
Henry Dudley
Henry C. Dudley , known also as Henry Dudley, was an English-born North American architect, known for his Gothic Revival churches...
. Afterwards he chose the same firm to design the new sanctuary for his church, the original building had been completed in 1847 and was already inadequate for the needs of the congregation. The vestry
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
acquired two lots, adjacent to the original church, at the corner of Eustis Avenue and Green Street for $3923 later in 1856.
A building committee worked over the three years to raise the necessary funds for construction by subscription, while construction progressed. They had hired a local builder, Hugh N. Moore, to construct the building. Because Moore was not familiar with certain techniques of construction for Gothic architecture, Lay wrote to Wills early in 1857 to request assistance and a Mr. Mason was sent to Huntsville to supervise the construction. Wills died in April of that year and his partner, Dudley, took over. Construction continued and by December 1858 the windows had been installed. The congregation held the first services in the building on the eve of Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
, 23 April 1859. The building was estimated to have had a total cost of roughly $37,565.
Architecture
The building is Gothic Revival, in a Middle PointedEnglish Gothic architecture
English Gothic is the name of the architectural style that flourished in England from about 1180 until about 1520.-Introduction:As with the Gothic architecture of other parts of Europe, English Gothic is defined by its pointed arches, vaulted roofs, buttresses, large windows, and spires...
style inspired by 14th century English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
architecture. The church is built in brick and is an aisled nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
-and-chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
structure with a monumental bell tower. The sanctuary measures 54 feet (16.5 m) by 100 feet (30.5 m) with the ridge-line of the roof 50 feet (15.2 m) above the floor. The long sides of the building each feature six buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
ed bays
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
. Each bay contains a traceried
Tracery
In architecture, Tracery is the stonework elements that support the glass in a Gothic window. The term probably derives from the 'tracing floors' on which the complex patterns of late Gothic windows were laid out.-Plate tracery:...
window. The tracery produces a pair of trefoil
Trefoil
Trefoil is a graphic form composed of the outline of three overlapping rings used in architecture and Christian symbolism...
-arch lancets topped by a quatrefoil
Quatrefoil
The word quatrefoil etymologically means "four leaves", and applies to general four-lobed shapes in various contexts.-In heraldry:In heraldic terminology, a quatrefoil is a representation of a flower with four petals, or a leaf with four leaflets . It is sometimes shown "slipped", i.e. with an...
. The front gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
of the building features a 8 feet (2.4 m) by 15 feet (4.6 m) traceried window over the entrance. The three-stage bell tower is also buttressed and measures 18 feet (5.5 m) square and 151 feet (46 m) to the top of the octagonal spire
Spire
A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, particularly a church tower. Etymologically, the word is derived from the Old English word spir, meaning a sprout, shoot, or stalk of grass....
. It features lancet and trefoil windows.
The interior is entered through double wooden doors that appear to be original to the building, set within a lancet arch
Arch
An arch is a structure that spans a space and supports a load. Arches appeared as early as the 2nd millennium BC in Mesopotamian brick architecture and their systematic use started with the Ancient Romans who were the first to apply the technique to a wide range of structures.-Technical aspects:The...
. The interior walls are plastered brick; the floors are heart pine, covered with carpet. The ceiling is wood paneled, with the exposed structural oak timbers forming an arched pattern. The apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
is a semi-octagonal projection with three large figural
Figure
Figure may refer to:*A shape, drawing, or representation*Figure, wood appearance*Musical figure, distinguished from musical motif*Shaping a mirror on a reflective telescope*Noise figure, in telecommunication*Dance figure, an elementary dance pattern...
lancet windows that retain their original stained and painted glass. The apse ceiling is a ribbed segmental arch vault
Vault (architecture)
A Vault is an architectural term for an arched form used to provide a space with a ceiling or roof. The parts of a vault exert lateral thrust that require a counter resistance. When vaults are built underground, the ground gives all the resistance required...
. The ribs are decorated and feature plaster boss caps at their apex.