Como in Panola County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)
Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church
Built c. 1872
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 18, 2024
1. Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church Marker
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Notable Buildings • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1872.
Location. 34° 30.869′ N, 89° 56.523′ W. Marker is in Como, Mississippi, in Panola County. It is at the intersection of Main Street and Church Street, on the left when traveling north on Main Street. The marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject church, just to the right of the sanctuary entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 311 Main Street, Como MS 38619, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, and in the Mississippi Delta. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Como Commercial Historic District/Como Local Historic District (within shouting distance of this marker); Otha Turner (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Mississippi Fred McDowell (about 700 feet away); Napolian Strickland (approx. 0.2 miles away); Stark Young (approx. Ό mile away); a different marker also named Stark Young (approx. Ό mile away); Como (approx. 0.3 miles away); Sardis (approx. 5½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Como.
Regarding Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church. National Register of Historic Places № 87001936. Also a contributing property in the Como Commercial Historic District, NRHP № 08000675.
From the National Register Nomination prepared by Brenda Rubach and Richard Cawthon, 7/24/1987:
Situated on 0.53 of an acre and encircled by a cast iron fence, Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church of Como faces east onto Main Street. Built in the CarpenterGothic style, the small, one-story church with steeply pitched cross-gabled roof is cruciform in plan and has a 1944 addition to the rear. The building is raised on stuccoed brick piers and is finished with white clapboards, projecting baseboards and slender, tapered wooden buttresses.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 18, 20242. Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church MarkerThe marker is mounted on the right side of the sanctuary entrance.Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church derives its significance from its architectural character, being one of the most sophisticated of the few Carpenter Gothic style churches remaining in Mississippi. Also significant is the fact that the church was built by Andrew Johnson, a prolific and creative north Mississippi contractor and architect of the late nineteenth century.
As early as 1860, efforts were made to establish an Episcopal church in Como; however, it was not until 1872 that Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church was organized by Rev. William S. Speirs. The congregation, feeling the need for a building in which to worship, placed N. R. Sledge, Jr., in charge of collecting the necessary funds. The lot was donated by Colonel and Mrs. Monroe Pointer; and although only $1,500 had been donated for building the church, it was decided to commence construction. The cornerstone was laid December 25, 1872, and the building was completed within the next year. Because the church was deeply in debt, N. R. Sledge and Sons assumed all liabilities and the church was consecrated on October 21, 1873, by Bishop Green.
Related markers.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 18, 2024
3. Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church
From the National Register Nomination: The front-gabled main (east) facade contains a centered entrance porch flanked by stained glass lancet windows and surmounted by a circular window. The porch, which is carried by four short square posts, has a pointed arched opening surmounted by a trefoil. At the peak of the porch roof is a wooden cross.
Also see . . . Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: The Carpenter Gothic building was constructed in 1873 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. It was designed by James B. Cook, an English architect residing in Memphis, Tennessee, at the time this church was built. Construction was done by Andrew Johnson a Swedish architect who went on to design and build 77 structures in the Sardis area.(Submitted on December 22, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 18, 2024
4. Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church Marker
Looking northwest across Main Street; the church is a contributing property in the Como Commercial Historic District.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 18, 2024
5. Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church (north elevation)
From the National Register Nomination: Buttresses frame the front facade and punctuate the five bays of the north and south elevations of the nave section of the church. A tall, narrow, rectangular stained-glass window capped by a label and surrounded by plain trim and sill occupies each bay. The rear addition, which was built in 1944, houses the Sunday school and parish house.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 18, 2024
6. Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church (southeast elevation)
From the National Register Nomination: The projecting front facing gable entry porch is supported by paired wood box columns with capitals and bases which support a gothic arch in the gable. Both the main roof and the entry porch roof are topped by wooden Celtic crosses. The front windows are Gothic arched wood double hung sash with leaded stained glass lights. A one-story rectangular plan frame parish house addition, built in the 1960s, extends from the southwest transept.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 22, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 18, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 193 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on December 22, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
