Zabriskie Memorial

Zabriskie Memorial Church, formally known as St. John the Evangelist, is one of Newport’s most architecturally significant ecclesiastical landmarks. Completed in 1894 and endowed by the Zabriskie family, the church was designed by Bruce Price, a prominent late‑Victorian architect whose work helped shape the American Shingle Style. The structure’s exterior combines locally quarried stone, intricate masonry, copper detailing, and a distinctive clay tile roof—a rare and defining feature among Newport’s historic churches. As a contributing building within Newport’s nationally recognized historic district, the church requires preservation methods that honor its original materials and architectural lineage.

Slate & Copper Services was selected to perform a specialized restoration of the church’s historic clay tile roof, addressing age‑related deterioration, underlayment failure, and coastal‑weather exposure. Our work included tile roof restoration, custom copper flashing and architectural sheet metal fabrication, select wood shingle repair, and stabilization of weather‑exposed exterior assemblies. Each scope was executed using traditional craftsmanship appropriate for a late‑19th‑century ecclesiastical structure, ensuring continuity with the church’s original construction techniques and design intent Our craftsmen applied historically appropriate installation techniques, premium clay tile materials, and custom copper fabrication designed to withstand Newport’s coastal climate.

Historic properties such as Zabriskie Memorial Church demand more than conventional construction knowledge—they require fluency in historic tile roofing, architectural sheet metal restoration, traditional carpentry, and period‑correct exterior assemblies. Slate & Copper Services often performs restoration on landmark churches, museums, estates, and historic homes throughout coastal Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, providing restoration solutions that preserve architectural heritage without compromising durability.

The Zabriskie Memorial Church project reflects our commitment to excellence in historic restoration, tile roof preservation, copper fabrication, wood roof restoration, and custom exterior craftsmanship. Through careful planning, collaboration with regional preservation experts, and precise execution, we helped ensure that this iconic Newport landmark continues to serve its community—and inspire future generations.

Architect: Newport Architecture

Builder: Joseph Gnazzo Company