Grace Episcopal Church
Why it's listed
Grace Episcopal Church at 419 South Main Street in Lexington is a one-story red brick building completed in 1902 for an Episcopal mission congregation, replacing an older wooden church on another site. It shows the Late Gothic Revival style through a steeply pitched gable roof, lancet-arched windows and doors, buttresses and a corner bell tower. An unusual polygonal narthex and distinctive tower detailing set it apart from typical examples. Hook and Sawyer designed it, and J. C. Morris was the contractor. Inside, the chancel is dominated by a three-part Tiffany Studios window installed in 1918 in memory of textile manufacturer William Edwin Holt. J & R Lamb Studios made other stained glass windows in the narthex and nave. Additions from 1951, 1957 and 1964 were designed to complement the original building. The church was listed for its architectural character, its stained glass, and its well-preserved early twentieth-century design, with significance running from 1902 to 1918.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is significant under Criterion C as an excellent example of Late Gothic Revival architecture, designed by Hook and Sawyer, with atypical tower and polygonal narthex details. It also holds notable stained glass, including a 1918 Tiffany Studios altar window and windows by J & R Lamb Studios.
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 06001138, listed December 20, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 419 S. Main St., Lexington |
|---|---|
| County | Davidson County |
| Listed | December 20, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06001138 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1902-1918 |
| Architect / builder | Hook and Sawyer, Architects; J. C. Morris, Contractor; Tiffany Studios (stained glass); J & R Lamb Studios (stained glass) |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Art |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in religious use; a larger church built in 1987 stands on the same church property outside the nominated area, and the 1901-1902 church remains standing with its later additions. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.82051, -80.25698 (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 06001138.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5591126
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.