Emmanuel Church holds the dual distinction of being the first building on Newbury Street in Boston’s newly-filled Back Bay and the second church in this stylish neighborhood. Designed in the Gothic Revival style by Alexander Rice Esty and completed in 1861, it is constructed of Roxbury puddingstone with sandstone trim. The use of rough-faced puddingstone here popularized the material during the latter half of the nineteenth century.

 

In 2012, our firm performed a conditions assessment of the building that guided a multi-phased program of restoration at the church. Since then, we have completed extensive masonry repairs at the north wall that spans from repointing to delicate sandstone trim replacement and dutchman repair.  In 2015, we collaborated with Serpentino Stained Glass to restore its famous Burnham windows, recreating those that were missing or beyond repair.  And in 2018 with assistance from the Boston Community Preservation Committee, the firm led a restoration of granite stairs at the south entry.