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The History of Grace Church
Grace
Episcopal Church’s building is a beautiful example of the “Carpenter Gothic”
style of architecture popular in the decade after the War Between the States
when Middle Tennessee, along with the rest of the country was experiencing a
recovery from the pain and deprivations of the war. The Church was placed
on the National Register of Historic places in 1976.
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| In 1877,
Mr. and Mrs. Orville McKissack (masters of the 1845 McKissack House two
doors south of Grace Church) gave a part of the formal gardens of the house
as a site for a Church where the people of the community could come together
to worship God. The people of the community raised $1,800 for construction
costs. |
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| The Church
was designed by the Nashville architect, P.J. Williamson. The Rev. Charles
Todd Quintard, Bishop of the Diocese of Tennessee, consecrated the Church on
May 16, 1878. It has served continuously since that time as a place for the
people of the community to come together to worship God. |
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The
graceful altar rail with its “fruit of the vine” motive was carved
from black walnut trees cut on the Ewell Farm by Professor T. S. Morton of
the Branham and Hughes Academy.The carved
Altar itself was a gift from Campbell Brown, son of Lizinka Brown Ewell, of
the Ewell Farm. It was fashioned by Rev. James Oertel, a former minister
and then artist in residence at the Columbia Female Institute, from the wood
of trees cut on the Ewell Farm.
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| Many
memorials have been placed in the church by loving friends in the community,
including a stained glass window in honor of one of the founders of the
Beechcroft School. The inscription reads: |
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“I know that my Redeemer Livith”
To the glory of God and in Memory of
Henry Bacon Estes
This window is erected by the Children of
Beechcroft – 1888 |
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The
Pilcher organ (one of the few still operable) was purchased with funds
raised by the people of the community, lead by Mss Glouster, church organist
and a teacher at Beechcroft School.
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| The
original, beautifully-toned church bell, engraved “England – 1839”, hangs in
the belfry and still rings for weddings, funerals and to call the people of
the community together for Sunday Service. |
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