St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Carpenter Gothic church in Prairieville, Alabama.
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church is a Carpenter Gothic church located in Prairieville with vertical board siding and pointed-arch windows throughout its facade. The steeply pitched gabled roof and buttress-like projections at the perimeter define its distinctive appearance.
The church was built in 1853 by enslaved workers on a three-acre property and drew architectural inspiration from Richard Upjohn's designs. It was formally dedicated in 1858 and became established in the local community.
The church welcomed both free and enslaved community members after its dedication and served as a gathering place reflecting the social complexity of its era. Its role extended beyond worship to serve as a center for the local population.
The property spans three acres, providing space to walk around and explore the exterior and grounds at your own pace. The Episcopal Diocese of Alabama maintains the structure and conducted restoration work in 2023 including repairs to stained-glass windows.
Master carpenters from Henry Augustine Tayloe's plantation directed construction and incorporated hand-wrought iron strap hinges and tobacco-stained wood surfaces in the interior. These handcrafted details remain visible evidence of 19th-century construction techniques.
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