Grace Church is a historic Episcopal church at 300 Westminster Street at Mathewson Street in downtown Providence. It was built in 1845-46 and was designed by Richard Upjohn in the Gothic Revival style.
The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, and is part of the Downtown Providence Historic District.
When Grace Church was established, the neighborhood around Westminster Street was more residential and the church was associated with Providence's Protestant elite. Rhode Island Governor Elisha Dyer and his family were members of Grace Church.
The First Episcopal Bishop of Rhode Island and Rector of Grace Church, John Prentiss Kewley Henshaw is buried in Grace Church cemetery. He is credited with managing the completion of the existing building on Mathewson Street.
Russell Warren, architect, member of the church, and designer of the pre-Upjohn church is buried in Grace Church cemetery in a lot next to the bishops. Rhode Island Governor Nehemiah R. Knight and Senator Albert C. Greene are buried in the church cemetery.
Soprano Matilda Sissieretta Joyner Jones is buried in the church cemetery.
After a long period of declining residential character, the Providence downtown is once again growing in population. The Grace Church congregation is drawing a more diverse congregation, including many from the city's growing Liberian community and diverse groups from all walks of life. Grace Church is open to all.
The Pavilion at Grace, just next door to the main building is a dazzling modern event space connected to historic Grace Church right in the heart of downtown Providence. Completed in October 2017, this light-filled addition to Grace Church at 300 Westminster Street accepts bookings for wedding receptions and other catered events. read more