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INVENTORY FORM B CONTINUATION SHEET LEXINGTON 6 MERIAM STREET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No. 220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD,BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02125 2143 ❑ Recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. ff checked,you must attach a completed National Register Criteria Statement form. Use as much space as necessary to complete the following entries, allowing text to flow onto additional continuation sheets. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION: Describe architectural features. Evaluate the characteristics of this building in terms of other buildings within the community. The Church of Our Redeemer at 6 Meriam Street is a monumental, Colonial Revival style building at the base of Merriam Hill, close to Massachusetts Avenue. The flat site is situated between the Minute Man Bikeway rail trail and Patriots Drive. Constructed of brick with wood trim, the roughly L-shaped building consists of the main sanctuary block and several wings and appendages of various sizes at the back. Front and side setbacks are large. Maintained chiefly in lawn, the property also contains a wide driveway at the left side, which extends to a paved surface parking lot at the back half of the site; scattered trees and shrubs; and formal gardens and a playground at the right side of the lot. A concrete walkway leads from Meriam Street to a broad concrete stairway at the main entrance. The five by seven bay sanctuary block is set gable end to the street. Its outer bays are blank, framed by Tuscan pilasters. The middle three bays contain a recessed entrance, with Doric columns supporting a high wood entablature. The center entrance comprises double-leaf, wood paneled doors flanked by a single leaf doorway on each side. All three doorways have pedimented lintels with acroteria at the corners; the center doorway has a scroll and sunburst element in the center. Six over six windows surmount the outer doors; a blind window opening tops the center door. The fully pedimented gable end contains flushboarding in the tympanum, with a triangular louvered opening in the center. A three-stage steeple with a polygonal spire is set towards the front of the building. Its brick base has a large circular window in each face and a wood entablature crowned by large wood urns at each corner. The slender second stage (containing a bell) is wood, with corner pilasters, flushboard sides with open arches, and a decoratively carved cornice. The small, uppermost stage is octagonal, with an oval window in each wood face and a molded cornice. The side elevations are characterized by tall 16/12 double-hung windows with wood trim, including pedimented lintels. The raised basement has 8/8 windows. On the left side of the sanctuary, a cross-gabled entry wing rises one-story over a partially exposed basement. Its three-bay fagade has brick-quoined corners, wood gable returns, an offset entrance at the main level with a classical wood frame and recessed double-leaf doorway, and a louvered lunette centered in the gable peak. Windows have 8/8 sash and brick sills. A low, two story, side gabled wing behind the main sanctuary presents five bays towards the driveway, with brick—quoined corners, molded wood trim at the 8/8 windows, and two single-leaf doors with molded casings and cornices. Extending from the right rear corner of the sanctuary is a perpendicular gabled ell, one story high with a mostly exposed basement level and 8/8 double hung sash. Its three-bay gable end (facing Patriots Lane) has gable returns and three windows at the upper story; a center entrance is located at grade with double-leaf doors in a classical wood frame. Fenestration on the seven bay elevation facing Meriam Street is slightly irregular, with some grouped windows. Landscaping includes a labyrinth and memorial garden installed in the early 21 st century between the church building and Patriots Lane. Well preserved and well maintained, The Church of Our Redeemer is a landmark property in downtown Lexington and an exceptionally well-detailed example of mid-20th century Colonial Revival ecclesiastical design. The building is notable for its elegant proportions, monumental pedimented fagade, prominent steeple, and academic detailing. HISTORICAL NARRATIVE Continuation sheet I