Our Lady of Good Voyage Church
Why it's listed
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church is a stuccoed Mission-style church on a hill above Gloucester's waterfront, with an attached rectory wing. It was built in 1914 after fire destroyed the parish's first church, dedicated in 1893. Architect Halfdan M. Hanson designed it, and Henry Dana Sleeper designed the original interior. Its features include twin bell towers, ogee pediments, a rose window and stained-glass windows, and it is the only Mission-style building in Gloucester. The parish was founded in 1889 by Portuguese immigrants, many from the Azores, who came to work in the fishing industry. Their families built homes around the church and kept Old Country traditions alive there. In 1945 it was dedicated the Shrine of the Fisherman. The towers hold carillon bells cast by John Taylor & Company of England and installed in 1922, said to be the first carillon bells in the United States. It was listed for its ethnic heritage and its architecture.
Significance in brief: It was the focus of Gloucester's large Portuguese fishing community, which had no church of its own through most of the nineteenth century. It is also Gloucester's only example of the Mission style, designed by architect Halfdan M. Hanson. It retains the first carillon bells installed in the United States.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 90000706, listed May 10, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 136--144 Prospect St. and 2--4 Taylor St., Gloucester |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | May 10, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000706 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1889-1939 as stated in the form; the listing amendment sets the beginning date at 1914. |
| Architect / builder | Hanson, Halfdan M.; Sleeper, Henry Dana; Taylor, John & Company |
| Architectural style | Mission / Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | European, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in religious use as a church; the 1950 parish hall on the lot is noncontributing. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.61708, -70.65721 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 90000706.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715802
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.