St. James Episcopal Church
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Why it's listed
St. James Episcopal Church, at 1991 Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, was built in 1888-89 for a parish that began in 1864 as a mission from Christ Church. Its first chapel went up in 1871 on Beech Street. In 1885 the congregation bought the present corner site, which held the Davenport Tavern, standing since 1757. One section of the tavern was moved to Somerville and the rest was demolished. Architect Henry M. Congdon of New York designed the church in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. A crossing tower dominates a picturesque composition of buttresses, gables, dormers and porches, built of puddingstone, brownstone, brick and slate. The compact, centralized plan suits low-church Episcopal worship. Funding came partly from Old Cambridge parishioners, including a large gift from Mary Longfellow Greenleaf. The church was listed for its link to the Yankee community of North Cambridge and as a good local example of Richardsonian Romanesque church design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is significant under criterion A for its ties to the development of Massachusetts Avenue and North Cambridge, especially the Yankee community between Harvard and Porter Squares. Under criterion C, it is a good local example of Richardsonian Romanesque church design, notable for its siting and its mix of four materials.
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 83000828, listed June 30, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1991 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | June 30, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000828 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Henry M. Congdon |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as a church in present use; the form records no alterations and no move. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.39087, -71.12067 (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 83000828.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715862
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.