Christ Church is a small but powerful beacon of faith in Bayfield, Wisconsin.
Christ Church, The Episcopal Church of Chequamegon Bay is situated above Lake Superior in Bayfield, Wisconsin, a community renowned as one of the “best coastal small towns” and “best Midwestern small towns” in the United States. As the gateway to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Bayfield is a haven for campers, boaters, and paddlers. Surrounded by small farms with exquisite fruit crops, fragrant pine forests, and breathtaking views of clear blue waters, our community attracts outdoor enthusiasts and tourists seeking renewal in this unique location.
Our Mission
As part of the Diocese of Wisconsin, our church's mission is to bear witness to the community through liturgy, music, and outreach. Guided by the Spirit and enriched by our vibrant community, we seek peace and the rejuvenation of our souls through worship and the songs of God's love.
Services Offered
We offer weddings, christenings, and memorial services in our chapel or tranquil garden. Visitors are always welcome! If the church is closed, we encourage you to stroll around and admire the beautiful Carpenter Gothic exterior or sit on a bench in the garden to enjoy the serenity.
Our History
We warmly welcome all interested in exploring history, the arts, and architecture. Christ Church traces its origins back to 1856 when the first settlers arrived in Bayfield with dreams of establishing a significant inland seaport. Our chapel is proudly listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Key Historical Events
1857: C. B. Rittenhouse donated land for the church. The outbreak of the Civil War brought prosperity to Bayfield, creating a demand for the area's lumber.
1870: The nave was constructed from local white pine lumber, and the mission was formally organized in the Diocese of Wisconsin under Bishop Jackson Kemper.
1893: The building was expanded to include a bell tower, apse, chancel, and high altar. The hand-hewn pews remain in use today, and the Tiffany-style stained glass windows continue to enhance the apse's charm.
1893: Story and Clark of Chicago built the harmonium, which remains in excellent condition and is housed at Bayfield Presbyterian Church.
1996: The high altar was renovated, and the tabernacle door was opened with an antique lock. A hanging sacrament lamp, which burns perpetually, signifies that the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in the Tabernacle. The original altar, circa 1873, was found and placed free-standing in the chancel, which is now used to celebrate the Holy Eucharist.
August 15: Bishop Wantland consecrated a beautiful hand-painted Icon of Our Lady of Walsingham. Created by artist Christine Pohuly, the icon features Mary and the Christ Child, surrounded by regional symbols and Native American art. A permanent shrine for the icon was established at the back of the church.
Honoring the History of Our Land
We respectfully acknowledge the Anishinaabe people as the traditional custodians of the land where we gather in worship. We honor their enduring presence and contributions to the life of this region and ask for God’s blessing upon all Native American communities, including the Lake Superior Chippewa.
In 1974, this photograph was submitted to the National Park Service along with a nomination for the National Register of Historic Places.
The nomination stated that:
“The diminutive Christ Episcopal Church is one of the finest remaining examples of a mid-nineteenth-century Carpenter’s Gothic church in Wisconsin. It is second only, perhaps, to St. John Chrysostom Church, Delafield, and equals or surpasses St. Peter’s Church, Ripon. Unlike the latter structure, Christ Episcopal remains to this day unaltered by remodelings or the removal of parts, though sensitive tower and apse additions have changed the original form. With its vertical boards and battens, its steeply-pitched gable roof, and its scroll bargeboards it conveys the essence of Carpenter’s Gothic in a striking but humbly-proportioned church.”
The nomination was approved and Christ Church Bayfield entered the National Register of Historic Places on December 27, 1974.
Photo credit: Jeffrey M. Dean, State Historical Society of Wisconsin