Immanuel Episcopal Church on the Green

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Immanuel Episcopal Church
Immanuel Episcopal Church, 1970
Immanuel Episcopal Church, 1970
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Location New Castle, Delaware
Country United States
Denomination Episcopal Church
Website www.immanuelonthegreen.org
History
Founded 1689
Architecture
Status Parish church
Functional status Active
Groundbreaking 1703
Completed 1708
Administration
Diocese Delaware
Province III
Clergy
Rector The Rev'd Christopher P. Keene
Immanuel Episcopal Church on the Green
Part of New Castle Historic District (#67000003)
Added to NRHP December 24, 1967[1]

Immanuel on the Green (Episcopal) is an historic church in New Castle, Delaware, listed as a contributing property in the New Castle Historic District.[1] The church is situated near the center of New Castle at the northeast end of the Green, or town common, making it a prominent local landmark and tourist attraction. Operating continuously since 1689, it is the oldest Anglican parish in Delaware and the oldest continuously operating Anglican/Episcopal parish in the country.[2] The church building was constructed between 1703 and 1708 and enlarged in 1822. The interior and roof were rebuilt following a disastrous fire in 1980.

History

Immanuel Church was founded in 1689 as the first Anglican parish in the present-day state of Delaware, which at the time was still part of Pennsylvania. The first rector was the Rev. George Ross, who served from 1705 to 1708 and then from 1714 to 1754.[3] The church itself was constructed between 1703 and 1708, with the first services taking place there even before the building was completed.[2]

The church gradually fell into disrepair after the American Revolution. In 1820, Philadelphia architect William Strickland undertook a major renovation and expansion of the building which included a new transept, bell tower, steeple, roof, and interior. The interior was remodeled in the 1850s in the Victorian style, and again around 1900 in the Colonial Revival style.[3]

Immanuel Church caught fire on February 1, 1980 when embers from a nearby marsh fire landed on the roof. The roof, steeple, and interior of the building were completely destroyed, leaving only the exterior walls intact. Despite the severe damage, an outpouring of support from around the state that netted more than $2 million made it possible to rebuild the church. Restored to its 1822 appearance, the church was rededicated on December 18, 1982.[2]

Architecture

File:INTERIOR OF IMMANUEL EPISCOPAL CHURCH, NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE.jpg
Church interior

The National Register of Historic Places listing for the New Castle Historic District describes Immanuel Episcopal Church as a "stuccoed stone, 5 bay, center aisle church with clipped gable roof, and stone and frame spire with clock".[1] The current appearance of the building is mostly due to architect William Strickland, who was responsible for the transept and crenellated tower. The reconstructed roof, steeple, and interior also follow Strickland's design.[2]

Cemetery

Several notable people are interred in the Immanuel Church cemetery:

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Immanuel_Episcopal_Church_on_the_Green&oldid=714592189"