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FORM L' - £ I.1 I L I)I N G FIn Area no. Form no.
MASSACILUSETTS I(IS'I'OIIICAL COP41VIISSIOx B
Office of the Secrctary, State house, Boston
AN 6 rn Lexington
rens 1912 Mass. Ave.
'` Hancock United Church of Christ
S
r - Sent use Church
4 I
- ;ent owner Hancock Church
- — — :ription:
1892
-- _ )urce Corner stone
& & Colonial Rev. addition
nEuuitect L—ew(s -t-P66y)e c4 ;ne-
in relation to nearest cross streets and
other buildings. Indicate north. Exterior wall fabric fieldstone & slate shingle
Outbuildings (describe)
Other features Square lower, south front
£asedeTfieldstnnP with buttres.ses.carriage
�f
entrance through base of
Altered Tp r. enlarged Date 19 2 4
Moved Date
V.--—
5. Lot size:
a �f- Less than one acre Over one acre x
Approximate frontage 150 '
Approximate distance of building from street
25'
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE 6. Recorded by E. W. Reinhardt
USGS Quadrant
Organization Lex. Hist. Comm.
MHC Photo no.
Date August 20 , 19 75
(over)
7. Original o�vner (if known)
Original use
Subsequent uses (if any) and dates
8. Themes (check as -many as applicable)
Aboriginal Conservation Recreation
Agricultural Education Religion
Architectural Exploration/ Science/
The Arts — settlement invention
Commerce Industry Social/
Communication Military Humanitarian
Community development Political . Transportation
9. Historical Significance (include explanation of themes checked above)
.Tower, arched with granite block voussoirs heavy granite sills & lintels over all doors &
windows. Entrance = double Romanesque arch into covered porch, squat granite pillar supportiz
spring point common to both arches. Wide gable w. slate shingle infill , strip window sides
of gable curving in to meet window, right side of front facede. Wide gable slate infill 'largE
arched window on South side of building.
Col. Revival addition. 1 story high. stucco covered cement block arched window with keystone
decorative wood element white painted quoins at NE corner. Door with half round covered
portico, with baluster, Palladian window over, sidelights 1 fan light
10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records,
early maps, etc.)
Worthen, Ed. A calendar History of Lexington p. '91 p 118
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INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET Town Property Address
LEXINGTON 1912 MASS. AVE.
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Area(s) Form No.
MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES BUILDING
220 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD 66
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02125
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
The Hancock Congregational Church was organized in 1868 and for more than twenty years services were held in the
former academy building at 1 Bedford Street. In 1887 a building committee was established to find larger quarters and
Matthew H. Merriam served as chairman. Land was purchased west of the old Munroe House and a cornerstone was laid
on July 26, 1892. The church was designed by Walter J. Paine of the Boston architectural firm of Lewis&Paine. The
Dodge Brothers of Somerville were the contractors. The total cost of the building was approximately$45,000. The
stained glass was fabricated by Redding&Baird of Boston and the organ was built at the factory of G.T. Hutchinson,
Irvington Street,Boston. Services were first held in this church on August 20, 1893.
A detailed description of the new church edifice appeared in the Lexington Minute-man on August 18, 1893:
The edifice is of the rustic style of architecture, a trifle suggestive of the Norman,being built of field stone,with
granite trimmings and wooden gables. It is a two story structure,picturesquely built,the four gables,together
with a tower and porte cochere directly underneath, setting the building off to fine advantage. On the first floor is
the chapel and auditorium seating 450,the chapel which is located on the front of the church in the semi-circular
projection seating 250,both rooms being so arranged that they can be thrown together...The ceiling of the
structure is of cypress, open timber, showing construction and giving much dignity to the church. The audience
room is finished in quartered oak,while the other rooms in the second story are finished in whitewood. The
floors are double throughout,the under floor being of hemlock and the upper of spruce.
The interior of the church was finished with quartered oak. The walls were painted old rose and the low vaulted ceiling
was light blue with sectional plaster moldings of light blue outlined in buff and cream tints. The carpets were pale buff
and golden brown with a touch of pink.
In 1922 the Church bought the adjacent Hudson property and in 1924 a parish house was constructed according to designs
by Willard D. Brown. In the 1940s the chancel was rebuilt and refurnished including a new organ and console, alter and
reredos. Also in the 1940s eleven classrooms were constructed in the basement of the church. A new chapel was added
in 1950,taking part of the space formerly occupied by the vestry and leaving room for a narthex which was also added at
the time. The Preston Wing was built in 1951 and included additional classrooms,Ladies Church Parlor, a nursery and
improved entrance to the Parish House. The architects for the wing were Collens,Willis and Beckonert. In 1960 the
Church School Wing was constructed,providing additional offices and classrooms as well as a church library.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
American Architect and Building News, October 7, 1893.
Department of Public Safety records,Massachusetts State Archives, Boston.
Hudson, Charles. History of the Town of Lexington. Cambridge: The Riverside Press Co., 1913,vol. 1,p. 363+.
Lexington Minute-Man,June 9, 1893; August 18, 1893.
www.hancockchurch.org
Supplement prepared by:
Lisa Mausolf
July 2009