St. Stephen's Memorial Church
Also known as: St. Stephen's Episcopal Church
Why it's listed
Facing the Lynn Common at South Common and Blossom Streets, this church combines Romanesque and Gothic Revival elements in reddish granite quarried on the Swampscott estate of merchant Enoch Reddington Mudge, with red brick trim, brown sandstone tracery and a red slate roof. A 130-foot tower holds the main entrance, and a Latin-cross church hall connects to a parish house around a small courtyard holding the Mudge family graves. Mudge funded the church in 1881 as a memorial to his children, one of whom was killed at Gettysburg. The Boston firm Ware & Van Brunt designed it, and evidence points to Henry Van Brunt as the principal designer. The carved stonework is considered unsurpassed in the city. The interior keeps hammer-beam trusses, mosaic floors, stencilled walls and stained glass from the Louis C. Tiffany group. The building remains largely unaltered since its dedication in November 1881.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of Lynn's most distinguished Victorian buildings, noting its unsurpassed carved stonework, its 130-foot tower as a local landmark, and its largely unaltered state. It was built by merchant Enoch Reddington Mudge as a memorial to his children, and its interior features work by major artists of the period, including Tiffany-associated stained glass. Supporting documents say it is the one building firmly attributed to architect Henry Van Brunt himself.
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 79000335, listed September 7, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 74 S. Common St., Lynn |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | September 7, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000335 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1881 |
| Architect / builder | Ware & VanBrunt (Ware & Van Brunt); built by Enoch Reddington Mudge; parish house 1920 addition by Harold Field Kellogg |
| Architectural style | Romanesque and Gothic Revival (Victorian) |
| Areas of significance | Art, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and virtually unaltered from its 1881 completion; occupied and in religious use. The parish house received additions in 1920 and 1956. |
| Acreage | 1.7 |
| Within district | Lynn Common Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.46287, -70.95623 (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 79000335.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7591779
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.