Name

Early Gothic Revival

General Range

1820-1850

The Gothic Revival movement in religious architecture was introduced into North America by the Episcopalians and Catholics in the very early 19th century. The very earliest examples were rather eclectic in design, with constants being the use of pointed arch windows and decorative architectural elements on the exterior. The Episcopalian Church had experienced dramatic loss of membership after the Revolution and turned to the Gothic Revival style as a statement that they were turning the page and entering a new era. The key example in Erie County is St. Peter's Church in Waterford (built 1832). It features a heavy entrance tower on the front gable end with decorative panel windows on the spire, corner pinnacles, and large pointed arch Y-tracery windows.
 
The interior of early Gothic Revival churches varies within some general parameters. St. Peter's in Waterford reflects these overall trends. The center aisle leads between two ranks of pews to the chancel area. The chancel is slightly elevated and features a railing for congregants to hold while kneeling for communion. The boxed pews reflect changes of the 1820s; the backs of the benches do not meet the floor, but a low wall runs down each bank to bisect the benches. This low wall is a consistent feature in early Gothic Revival style churches built prior to 1850.

If you have additional information or corrections to the existing information, send an email to info@preservationerie.org.
Submitted information is reviewed by Preservation Erie prior to updating the database.

Municipality

Name

Address

Waterford Borough

St. Peter's Episcopal Church

CHERRY ST