St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Milwaukee
Encyclopedia
St. Paul's Episcopal Church is a church located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
in the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee
. Noted for its Tiffany
windows, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
and is a designated Milwaukee Landmark.
The building was designed by local architect Edward Townsend Mix in Romanesque
style and built in 1884 using Lake Superior Sandstone, a dark red sandstone
found near the Apostle Islands
in Lake Superior
. It features wrought iron
by Master Blacksmith Cyril Colnik.
St. Paul's Church also has the largest collection of Tiffany stained glass
windows in the state. This includes the largest window ever made by Tiffany Studios of New York
. Spanning 30 feet long, 24 feet high and up to two inches thick, it is a copy of Gustave Doré's
masterpiece "Christ Leaving the Praetorium."
It is believed that the building closely resembles one which was designed by architect Henry Hobson Richardson
, whose plans were published in the Architectural Sketch Book, but never built.
A committee appointed by the church established Forest Home Cemetery
on Milwaukee's south side, the final resting place of many of the city's famed beer barons and social elite. When the land was selected it was located nearly two miles outside of the city limits. At the time this was believed to be far enough from urban development to remain rural.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
in the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee
Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee
Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America located in the southern area of Wisconsin. It is in Province V . The Rt. Reverend Steven Miller is the bishop.-Cathedral:...
. Noted for its Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany was an American artist and designer who worked in the decorative arts and is best known for his work in stained glass. He is the American artist most associated with the Art Nouveau and Aesthetic movements...
windows, it is 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...
and is a designated Milwaukee Landmark.
Description
Founded in 1838, St. Paul's parish is the oldest Episcopal parish in Milwaukee and the third established in Wisconsin. It is located in the wealthy downtown east neighborhood of Juneautown. Members included many prominent citizens of the time, which helped the church to become the most influential Episcopal congregation in the state.The building was designed by local architect Edward Townsend Mix in Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
style and built in 1884 using Lake Superior Sandstone, a dark red sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
found near the Apostle Islands
Apostle Islands
The Apostle Islands are a group of 22 islands in Lake Superior, off the Bayfield Peninsula in northern Wisconsin. The majority of the islands are located in Ashland County—only Sand, York, Eagle, and Raspberry Islands are located in Bayfield County...
in Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
. It features wrought iron
Wrought iron
thumb|The [[Eiffel tower]] is constructed from [[puddle iron]], a form of wrought ironWrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon...
by Master Blacksmith Cyril Colnik.
St. Paul's Church also has the largest collection of Tiffany stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows in the state. This includes the largest window ever made by Tiffany Studios of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Spanning 30 feet long, 24 feet high and up to two inches thick, it is a copy of Gustave Doré's
Gustave Doré
Paul Gustave Doré was a French artist, engraver, illustrator and sculptor. Doré worked primarily with wood engraving and steel engraving.-Biography:...
masterpiece "Christ Leaving the Praetorium."
It is believed that the building closely resembles one which was designed by architect Henry Hobson Richardson
Henry Hobson Richardson
Henry Hobson Richardson was a prominent American architect who designed buildings in Albany, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and other cities. The style he popularized is named for him: Richardsonian Romanesque...
, whose plans were published in the Architectural Sketch Book, but never built.
A committee appointed by the church established Forest Home Cemetery
Forest Home Cemetery
Forest Home Cemetery located in the Lincoln Village neighborhood of Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the final resting place of many of the city's famed beer barons, politicians and social elite...
on Milwaukee's south side, the final resting place of many of the city's famed beer barons and social elite. When the land was selected it was located nearly two miles outside of the city limits. At the time this was believed to be far enough from urban development to remain rural.