St. James Episcopal Church (Grosse Ile, Michigan)
Encyclopedia
The St. James Episcopal Church is a church located at 25150 East River Road in Grosse Ile, Michigan, United States
. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1971.
to establish residency and gain their freedom; the two returned to Detroit in approximately 1815. In 1827, Lisette married Scipio Forth, the owner of a freight business; she was apparently widowed three years later.
In 1831, she joined the household of John Biddle
, mayor of Detroit and founder of Wyandotte, Michigan
. During this time, Lisette purchased land and invested her savings in business ventures, reaping a tidy profit. Lisette spent much of her time at Biddle's Wyandotte estate, eventually following the Biddles to Philadelphia in 1849 and later to Paris
at the request of Biddle's wife, Eliza. In fact, Lisette had become good friends with Eliza Biddle, and the two women, both Episcopalians
, made a vow to eventually build a chapel.
Lisette returned to Michigan in 1856, entering the employ of John Biddle's son, William S. Biddle, at his estate on Grosse Ile, an island "beautiful homes and large estates, many of which are occupied by descendents of the old families." She died on August 7, 1866 (shortly after Eliza Biddle's death), and is interred in Elmwood Cemetery
.
to design the structure. James Biddle also built an altar cross, and a kneeling bench and reading stand for the minister. Construction began in 1867 and was completed in 1868. The first services in the church, conducted by Rev. Moses Hunter, were held in the spring of 1868.
Bishop Samuel Allen McCoskry
consecrated the church in July 1868; in his later report to the diocese, he stated:
In 1898, a large Tiffany glass
window was installed in the church, donated by Col. John Biddle (William's son) in memory of his mother Susan. A larger church was constructed on the site in 1958, and the 1867 structure serves as a chapel for the new church. The red doors of the structure are dedicated to the memory and benevolence of Lisette Denison Forth.
frame structure. The walls a vertical board and batten, and pierced vergeboards line the gables. The entrance is located on one side under a gable, and a frame steeple tops the church. The building has stained glass lancet windows, including the 1898 Tiffany window, Angel of Praise, which measures 11 feet by 5 feet 6 inches (3.4 m by 1.7 m). In the years since its construction, the church has undergone several repairs and had multiple additions, but the main structure remains substantially original and in excellent condition.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1971.
Lisette Denison Forth
Elisabeth (Lisette) Denison Forth was born as a slave in 1786 near Detroit. Her family was owned by William and Catherine Tucker; when William Tucker died, her parents were freed, but Lisette and her brother were not. Later, following a newly established legal precedent, Lisette and her brother crossed into CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to establish residency and gain their freedom; the two returned to Detroit in approximately 1815. In 1827, Lisette married Scipio Forth, the owner of a freight business; she was apparently widowed three years later.
In 1831, she joined the household of John Biddle
John Biddle (Michigan)
John Biddle was a delegate to the United States Congress from the Michigan Territory.-Early life and military career:...
, mayor of Detroit and founder of Wyandotte, Michigan
Wyandotte, Michigan
Wyandotte is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 25,883 at the 2010 census, a decrease of 7.6% from 2000. Wyandotte is located in southeastern Michigan, approximately south of Detroit on the Detroit River, and is part of the collection of communities known as...
. During this time, Lisette purchased land and invested her savings in business ventures, reaping a tidy profit. Lisette spent much of her time at Biddle's Wyandotte estate, eventually following the Biddles to Philadelphia in 1849 and later to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
at the request of Biddle's wife, Eliza. In fact, Lisette had become good friends with Eliza Biddle, and the two women, both Episcopalians
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
, made a vow to eventually build a chapel.
Lisette returned to Michigan in 1856, entering the employ of John Biddle's son, William S. Biddle, at his estate on Grosse Ile, an island "beautiful homes and large estates, many of which are occupied by descendents of the old families." She died on August 7, 1866 (shortly after Eliza Biddle's death), and is interred in Elmwood Cemetery
Elmwood Cemetery (Detroit, Michigan)
Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit is one of Michigan's most important historic cemeteries. Located at 1200 Elmwood Street in Detroit's Eastside Historic Cemetery District, Elmwood is the oldest continuously operating, non-denominational cemetery in Michigan...
.
History
When Lisette Denison Forth died, she willed a portion of her estate to her family and the rest, some $3,000, to be used to construct a church. Although Lisette's contribution provided the bulk of the funds, William Biddle, knowing his mother's wishes, supplemented Lisette's contribution with some of his own and some of his mother's money. William's brother James donated the land for the chapel, and the two hired architect Gordon W. LloydGordon W. Lloyd
Gordon W. Lloyd was an architect of English origin, whose work was primarily in the American Midwest. After being taught by his uncle, Ewan Christian, at the Royal Academy, Lloyd moved to Detroit in 1858. There he established himself as a popular architect of Episcopal churches and cathedrals in...
to design the structure. James Biddle also built an altar cross, and a kneeling bench and reading stand for the minister. Construction began in 1867 and was completed in 1868. The first services in the church, conducted by Rev. Moses Hunter, were held in the spring of 1868.
Bishop Samuel Allen McCoskry
Samuel Allen McCoskry
Samuel Allen McCoskry , was the first bishop of Michigan in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, but was deposed by the House of Bishops.-Biography:...
consecrated the church in July 1868; in his later report to the diocese, he stated:
- This is a very church-like building. It is another evidence of the skill and taste of Mr. Lloyd, to whom we are indebted for so many such buildings in the Diocese. This church is the fruit of a life of toil and service of a faithful colored servant of Christ. She had, for years, husbanded her earnings for this purpose, and, long before she was called away from her life of probation, had solemnly devoted them to the Church of Christ. This was done in connection with the design of one, whom she had, long and faithfully served, to unite with her in the holy act. Providential circumstances having prevented the accomplishemnt of the wish of this person, it was faithfully carried out by two of her sons, who liberally supplied the funds required to complete the church; and it now stands, in all its simplicity and beauty, as the joint act of a Christian household, to provide a house of prayer for the rich and poor.
In 1898, a large Tiffany glass
Tiffany glass
Tiffany glass refers to the many and varied types of glass developed and produced from 1878 to 1933 at the Tiffany Studios, by Louis Comfort Tiffany....
window was installed in the church, donated by Col. John Biddle (William's son) in memory of his mother Susan. A larger church was constructed on the site in 1958, and the 1867 structure serves as a chapel for the new church. The red doors of the structure are dedicated to the memory and benevolence of Lisette Denison Forth.
Description
Saint James Episcopal Church is a front-gable, Carpenter GothicCarpenter Gothic
Carpenter Gothic, also sometimes called Carpenter's Gothic, and Rural Gothic, is a North American architectural style-designation for an application of Gothic Revival architectural detailing and picturesque massing applied to wooden structures built by house-carpenters...
frame structure. The walls a vertical board and batten, and pierced vergeboards line the gables. The entrance is located on one side under a gable, and a frame steeple tops the church. The building has stained glass lancet windows, including the 1898 Tiffany window, Angel of Praise, which measures 11 feet by 5 feet 6 inches (3.4 m by 1.7 m). In the years since its construction, the church has undergone several repairs and had multiple additions, but the main structure remains substantially original and in excellent condition.