This morning Grace Church, 254 Hicks Street (corner of Grace Court) celebrated the 175th anniversary of the first service held in its building, which was on December 10, 1848. The service, officiated by The Reverend Dr. Allen F. Robinson, fifteenth Rector of Grace, shown preaching in the phoro above. used the same liturgy and music as the 1848 service.
Following the service there was a reception in the church’s Guild Hall. During the reception, architectural conservationist and Grace parishioner Kim Lovejoy gave a talk about the building’s history. The main building was designed by Richard Upjohn in the High Gothic style. The Parish House, that includes space for Grace Church School, was completed in 1931. Ms. Lovejoy drew attention to some interesting aspects of the main building’s design, including its open trusswork ceiling, and described the history of interior re-decorations that led to the uncovering, in 2014, of the elaborate ceiling and wall designs dating from the late ninteenth century. Parishioner Robert Whiteford then talked briefly about the stained glass windows, which also date from the late ninteenth century, and include works from studios such as those of J&R Lamb, Franz Mayer of Munich. and Louis Comfort Tiffany.
