Christ Episcopal Church (Waltham, Massachusetts) - Architecture and Design

Architecture and Design

Christ Church was designed by Peabody and Stearns, masters of American Shingle style architecture, and was constructed of native Waltham fieldstone in the English Country style. The inspiration for the church's stone exterior came indirectly from architect H. H. Richardson, who was also a friend and Harvard classmate of Robert Treat Paine, Jr. When Paine remodeled and expanded his Waltham home in 1883, it was Richardson who designed the residence that would become Stonehurst, a Shingle style mansion built of glacial stones quarried on site from Paine's estate. Richardson died in 1886 and played no part in the planning of Christ Church, but it was his Stonehurst design that inspired Robert Treat Paine, Jr. to use the same stones from his property for the exterior of the church.

The church features several stained glass windows of significance. The east window, by Clayton and Bell, was a gift from Robert Treat Paine, Jr. in memory of his wife, Lydia Lyman Paine, who died in 1897 during the construction of the church. At Paine's request, his wife's likeness was incorporated into the left panel of the window as a red-clad figure kneeling before Christ. The west window, designed by Charles Connick, pays homage to Waltham's manufacturing history. In addition to images of Ruth, Solomon, and Noah — all industrious figures in the Bible — the window features rivets, a bicycle wheel, a watch escapement, a Metz car, and other symbols that reference Waltham's industrial character. Along the south wall is signed Tiffany window depicting the Nativity, given in memory of Frank Henry and Mary Ellen Perkins. Also along the south wall is a window by noted Boston stained glass artist Donald MacDonald. This work, given in memory of Harriot K. Parmenter, depicts the Easter scene of the risen Christ revealing himself to Mary Magdalene.

• The east window featuring the likeness of Lydia Lyman Paine

• The west window with references to Waltham's industries

• Tiffany window along the south wall

• Left pane of Donald MacDonald's Easter window along the south wall

• Right pane of Easter window