St. Luke's and St. Margaret's Church
Encyclopedia
St. Luke's and St. Margaret's Church is a former parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
in the Allston neighborhood of Boston
. It was closed in 2010.
St. Luke's was founded in 1892, in Allston, which was then a rapidly growing white-collar neighborhood. It was the only parish in the diocese founded under Bishop Phillips Brooks
, the famous preacher and author of O Little Town of Bethlehem
. An initial church building was built in 1895, at the corner or Brighton Avenue and St. Luke's Road. A rectory next door was later added. A larger church building was built adjacent in 1915, and the old sanctuary was converted to a parish hall. St. Luke's was broadly low church
in worship.
In the 1950s and 60s, as former members moved further out of Boston, attendance at both churches declined, and in 1967 the two parishes merged. They consolidated at the St. Luke's location, and the St. Margaret's buildings were sold. The combined parish continued to struggle, but it enjoyed a resurgence of attendance and activity in the 1980s and 1990s, beginning under the rectorship of Mary Glasspool (who would later become the first open lesbian bishop in the Anglican Communion
).
In the 2000s, though, membership again dwindled and the congregation was reduced from a full parish to a mission. In February 2010, the diocese announced that it was closing the mission, while retaining the property as a base for its "Micah Project", a residential internship program for young adults. The closing service was held on the feast of Pentecost
, May 23, 2010. Among the celebrants were the last vicar and three former pastors, including Bishop Glasspool.
in 1997.
The church contains many fine stain glass windows, including a series on the life of Christ. Particularly notable is a large Tiffany
window on the east wall depicting St John on the island of Patmos
.
Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
Episcopal Diocese of MassachusettsThe Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts is one of the nine original dioceses of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America....
in the Allston neighborhood of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. It was closed in 2010.
History
The parish was the merger of two separate churches. St. Margaret's (dedicated to Margaret of Antioch) was founded in 1862 in the nearby neighborhood of Brighton Center, which was then an independent town. The founders were associated with Church of the Advent in Boston, and St Margaret's was similarly Anglo-catholic in practice and worship.St. Luke's was founded in 1892, in Allston, which was then a rapidly growing white-collar neighborhood. It was the only parish in the diocese founded under Bishop Phillips Brooks
Phillips Brooks
Phillips Brooks was an American clergyman and author, who briefly served as Bishop of Massachusetts in the Episcopal Church during the early 1890s. In the Episcopal liturgical calendar he is remembered on January 23...
, the famous preacher and author of O Little Town of Bethlehem
O Little Town of Bethlehem
"O Little Town of Bethlehem" is a popular Christmas carol. The text was written by Phillips Brooks , an Episcopal priest, Rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia. He was inspired by visiting the Palestinian city of Bethlehem in 1865. Three years later, he wrote the poem for his...
. An initial church building was built in 1895, at the corner or Brighton Avenue and St. Luke's Road. A rectory next door was later added. A larger church building was built adjacent in 1915, and the old sanctuary was converted to a parish hall. St. Luke's was broadly low church
Low church
Low church is a term of distinction in the Church of England or other Anglican churches initially designed to be pejorative. During the series of doctrinal and ecclesiastic challenges to the established church in the 16th and 17th centuries, commentators and others began to refer to those groups...
in worship.
In the 1950s and 60s, as former members moved further out of Boston, attendance at both churches declined, and in 1967 the two parishes merged. They consolidated at the St. Luke's location, and the St. Margaret's buildings were sold. The combined parish continued to struggle, but it enjoyed a resurgence of attendance and activity in the 1980s and 1990s, beginning under the rectorship of Mary Glasspool (who would later become the first open lesbian bishop in the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
).
In the 2000s, though, membership again dwindled and the congregation was reduced from a full parish to a mission. In February 2010, the diocese announced that it was closing the mission, while retaining the property as a base for its "Micah Project", a residential internship program for young adults. The closing service was held on the feast of Pentecost
Pentecost
Pentecost is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection of Jesus...
, May 23, 2010. Among the celebrants were the last vicar and three former pastors, including Bishop Glasspool.
Buildings
The buildings, located at 5-7 St. Luke's Road, comprise a sanctuary, parish hall and rectory. The parish hall and rectory are in the half-timber, "Tudorbethan" style. The sanctuary is in the style of an English country church, but in brick. The church was designed in 1895 by Francis Allen and Harry E. Davidson. The assemblage was added to the National Register of Historic PlacesNational 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...
in 1997.
The church contains many fine stain glass windows, including a series on the life of Christ. Particularly notable is a large 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...
window on the east wall depicting St John on the island of Patmos
John of Patmos
John of Patmos is the name given, in the Book of Revelation, as the author of the apocalyptic text that is traditionally cannonized in the New Testament...
.