About Grace Episcopal Church, Oak Park, Illinois

Grace Episcopal Church is an excellent example of 19th century English Gothic Revival Style which adopted and adapted design principles from 14th century English Gothic. Founded in 1879, the Grace congregation had outgrown its small wood-frame church on Forest Avenue by 1898 when construction began on this site. The cornerstone was laid in 1901 and the sanctuary was completed to the clerestory level by 1905. The tower was completed in 1922/23 and the building was consecrated in 1942 when all debt was retired. The last stained glass windows were installed in the mid-1960s, finally completing the structure as originally envisioned by its architect, John Sutcliffe, more than 65 years earlier. The exterior of the building is white limestone. On the South (Lake Street) side, is a life-size figure of Christ shown in full liturgical vestments, welcoming all.

Dates Active: 1905-present
Tradition: Episcopalian
Architect(s): John Sutcliffe
Photography: Christopher Allison and Jonathan Noble, (February 27, 2023)
For further research: Grace Episcopal Church

Click below to see our in-progress interactive historical tour of the Grace Episcopal Church.