Grace Episcopal Church

Historic steeple and spire restoration of a gothic church designed by renowned architect Henry Hobson Richardson — featuring masonry repairs, historic slate roofing, and architectural sheet metal on the 130-foot steeple.

Grace Episcopal Church, designed by Henry Hobson Richardson and completed in 1883, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

CLIENT

Grace Episcopal Church

STRUCTURE TYPE

Gothic Church

LOCATION

New Bedford, MA

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Services Provided on This Project

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Historic Masonry

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Historic Painting

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Historic Roofing

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Architectural Sheet Metal

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Project Overview

Restoring a Richardson Masterwork

Originally completed in 1883 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, Grace Episcopal Church is a gothic style church designed by the renowned architect Henry Hobson Richardson. After decades of exposure and deferred maintenance, the church was in need of significant structural restoration.

Working in collaboration with Structures North Engineers from Salem, MA, Cenaxo began the work of replacing the severely damaged spire. The delicate process of dismantling nearly half of the 130-foot steeple began in the summer of 2015 and was completed in the summer of 2016 with the addition of a new timber framed spire.

Cenaxo was selected for this unique restoration project because of our experience with historic façade restoration and our ability to perform all the work with our in-house skilled craftspeople — from masonry and slate roofing to architectural sheet metal and historic painting.

Project Scope

  • Masonry repairs to the steeple, walls, and foundation elements

  • Masonry repointing using historically appropriate lime-based mortars

  • Historic slate roof restoration and selective replacement

  • Architectural sheet metal fabrication and installation on the spire

  • Dismantling and reconstruction of nearly half the 130-foot steeple

  • Installation of a new timber framed spire

H.H. Richardson Design

Grace Episcopal Church was designed by Henry Hobson Richardson, one of America's most influential architects, known for his Romanesque style. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1972, all restoration work was executed to preserve the building's architectural integrity and historic significance.

Project Gallery

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Progress Photos

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Before

The severely damaged steeple fully scaffolded for restoration, alongside the deteriorated ornamental iron cross finial removed from the spire.

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Progress

Aerial view showing the steeple restoration in progress — crane positioned for lifting operations as Cenaxo craftspeople rebuild the 130-foot structure.

Let’s Protect What Matters Most

If you’re responsible for a historic building, choosing the right restoration partner matters. Cenaxo provides expert guidance from evaluation through execution — with clarity, care, and confidence.