Grace Episcopal Church (Chicago, Illinois)
Encyclopedia
Grace Episcopal Church founded in 1851 is one of the oldest Episcopal congregations in Chicago
, Illinois
, United States
. Since December 1985 it has been located in a former printing works located at 637 South Dearborn Street in the Printer's Row
neighborhood. Now also called Grace Place, the historic 3-story redbrick late 19th century Arts and Crafts building is a contributing property
in the South Dearborn Street-Printing House Row North Historic District. Grace Place is also listed in the City of Chicago's Chicago Landmarks Historic Resources Survey.
Under the supervision of architects Laurence Booth/Paul Hansen and Associates (Booth Hansen), the building's first floor was converted into space for church social functions as well as a center for community meetings while all of the second floor and most of the third floor were combined into worship space for the church. Booth Hansen carefully avoided the temptation to convert the building's interior into the then popular loft
spaces and skillfully designed the two-story high worship space so as to minimize the intrusion of the massive wooden support posts into the raised circular sanctuary area. The remainder of the third floor was designed for offices. In 1989 Booth Hansen received the Chicago AIA
chapter's 10 year award in interior architecture
for Grace Place.
Grace Episcopal Church is an active parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago
. Its current rector is the Rev. Ted Curtis.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Since December 1985 it has been located in a former printing works located at 637 South Dearborn Street in the Printer's Row
Printer's Row, Chicago
Printer's Row, also known as Printing House Row, is a neighborhood located south of the Chicago downtown area known as the Loop. It is bounded by Congress Parkway on the north, Polk Street on the south, Plymouth Court on the east, and the Chicago River on the west. This neighborhood overlaps...
neighborhood. Now also called Grace Place, the historic 3-story redbrick late 19th century Arts and Crafts building is a contributing property
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
in the South Dearborn Street-Printing House Row North Historic District. Grace Place is also listed in the City of Chicago's Chicago Landmarks Historic Resources Survey.
Under the supervision of architects Laurence Booth/Paul Hansen and Associates (Booth Hansen), the building's first floor was converted into space for church social functions as well as a center for community meetings while all of the second floor and most of the third floor were combined into worship space for the church. Booth Hansen carefully avoided the temptation to convert the building's interior into the then popular loft
Loft
A loft can be an upper story or attic in a building, directly under the roof. Alternatively, a loft apartment refers to large adaptable open space, often converted for residential use from some other use, often light industrial...
spaces and skillfully designed the two-story high worship space so as to minimize the intrusion of the massive wooden support posts into the raised circular sanctuary area. The remainder of the third floor was designed for offices. In 1989 Booth Hansen received the Chicago AIA
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
chapter's 10 year award in interior architecture
Interior architecture
Interior Architecture is truly a marriage of three distinct design disciplines: interior design, architecture, and industrial design...
for Grace Place.
Grace Episcopal Church is an active parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago
Episcopal Diocese of Chicago
The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago is the official organization of the Episcopal Church in Chicago and Northern Illinois, USA. The diocese is served by The Right Reverend Jeffrey D. Lee, who serves as Bishop of the diocese, and The Right Reverend Victor A. Scantlebury, who serves as Assistant Bishop...
. Its current rector is the Rev. Ted Curtis.