Grace United Methodist Church, Wilmington
Grace United Methodist Church, situated at the intersection of 9th and West Streets in Wilmington, stands as a striking example of High Victorian Gothic Revival architecture. Designed by local architect Thomas Dixon and completed in 1868, the church was constructed from green serpentine stone sourced from Chadds Ford, with a base course of brownstone from New Brunswick. Its elaborate fa莽ade features two steeple towers topped with needle spires and Celtic crosses, with the tallest soaring 186 feet above the streetscape. A triple-arch entrance and expansive stained glass windows add to its commanding presence, while the church's dimensions鈥攁pproximately 166 by 102 feet鈥攆urther emphasize its architectural ambition.
Founded in the closing years of the Civil War, Grace Church was born from a vision by members of Saint Paul鈥檚 Methodist Church to establish a mission congregation at Wilmington鈥檚 western edge. The cornerstone was laid in 1865, and the sanctuary was dedicated just three years later, honoring the Union victory at Gettysburg that had spared the city from Confederate threat. At the time, Wilmington was a modest city of 30,000 residents, and Grace Church was built near its pastoral outskirts, reflecting both strategic foresight and civic pride.
The complex once included a two-story annex and a parsonage鈥擝assett Hall鈥攃onstructed in 1870 from the same signature stone. Though Bassett Hall was eventually razed in 1998 and replaced by a community playground, the church itself remains a landmark of spiritual and architectural legacy. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1983, it continues to serve the community while bearing the marks of time鈥攊ts green stonework darkened by decades of coal soot and weathering, a testament to the enduring character of the structure and the city it has shaped.
Founded in the closing years of the Civil War, Grace Church was born from a vision by members of Saint Paul鈥檚 Methodist Church to establish a mission congregation at Wilmington鈥檚 western edge. The cornerstone was laid in 1865, and the sanctuary was dedicated just three years later, honoring the Union victory at Gettysburg that had spared the city from Confederate threat. At the time, Wilmington was a modest city of 30,000 residents, and Grace Church was built near its pastoral outskirts, reflecting both strategic foresight and civic pride.
The complex once included a two-story annex and a parsonage鈥擝assett Hall鈥攃onstructed in 1870 from the same signature stone. Though Bassett Hall was eventually razed in 1998 and replaced by a community playground, the church itself remains a landmark of spiritual and architectural legacy. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1983, it continues to serve the community while bearing the marks of time鈥攊ts green stonework darkened by decades of coal soot and weathering, a testament to the enduring character of the structure and the city it has shaped.
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Grace United Methodist Church on Map
Sight Name: Grace United Methodist Church
Sight Location: Wilmington, USA (See walking tours in Wilmington)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Wilmington, USA (See walking tours in Wilmington)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Wilmington, Delaware
Create Your Own Walk in Wilmington
Creating your own self-guided walk in Wilmington is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Quaker Hill and Downtown Historical Buildings
For many visitors to Delaware's Wilmington, the downtown district is the main area of interest.
Indeed, the majority of Wilmington's most distinguished attractions are found here. Steeped in history, this part of the city still carries legacy of its first Swedish settlers much as that of the du Pont family who left a great deal of mark on the town's history. Some of the key local... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Indeed, the majority of Wilmington's most distinguished attractions are found here. Steeped in history, this part of the city still carries legacy of its first Swedish settlers much as that of the du Pont family who left a great deal of mark on the town's history. Some of the key local... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Wilmington Introduction Walking Tour
Wilmington is the largest city in Delaware. It lies at the confluence of the Brandywine and Christina Rivers. Wilmington was originally home to the Lenape people. However, the land was purchased from Chief Mattahorn by the Swedish South Company in 1638. They built Fort Christina at the mouth of what would later be called the Christina River.
The Swedish lost control of the Fort Christina... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
The Swedish lost control of the Fort Christina... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles