Emmanuel Episcopal Church

Emmanuel Episcopal Church held its first service and dedication in October 1854. Fifty years later, a series of architectural changes and additions began: the chancel was enlarged to provide choir seating and an organ, a carved stone reredos was placed above a marble altar, and over this a large "Tree of the Church" window was installed. A baptistry was added, centered by a marble angel sculpted by Daniel Chester French in the likeness of his thirteen-year-old daughter. In recognition of the end of World War I, a Chapel of Peace was constructed. Stained glass windows by LaFarge, Tiffany, and Kempe of London were installed throughout the church, balconies on each side of the nave and the original tower were removed, and the Christmas tower of Continental Gothic design replaced the original tower. Just above the center door, the Holy Family is depicted with a choir of child angels playing musical instruments, and the three magi stand midway up the tower. From Read Street, there is an entrance to a chapel that seats sixty people, where General George Marshall was married with General John J. Pershing as his best man. Notable preaching came from this pulpit, and in 1928 the Book of Common Prayer was ratified here. In the same year, Wallis Warfield Simpson, future Duchess of Windsor, was baptized here.

Baltimore, Maryland · United States