First Christian Church (Columbus, Indiana)

Last updated

First Christian Church
FirstChristianChurch.jpg
Streetside view of the church
Location map of Bartholomew County, Indiana.svg
Red pog.svg
USA Indiana location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location531 Fifth St., Columbus, Indiana
Coordinates 39°12′11″N85°55′8″W / 39.20306°N 85.91889°W / 39.20306; -85.91889
Area4 acres (1.6 ha)
ArchitectEliel Saarinen
Architectural styleInternational Modern
NRHP reference No. 01000067 [1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJanuary 3, 2001
Designated NHLJanuary 3, 2001 [2]

The First Christian Church (originally known as the Tabernacle Church of Christ) is a church in Columbus, Indiana, United States, built in 1942. It was the first contemporary building in Columbus and one of the first churches in the United States to be built in a contemporary architectural style. [3]

Contents

The building, designed by Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen, consists of a glass-fronted main hall, with a tower and bridge section. Interior details such as light fixtures, screen and furniture were designed by Saarinen's son Eero Saarinen (who would later design the North Christian Church in Columbus) and Charles Eames.

The building was designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service in 2001.

Plans for a new church

A larger church was needed to accommodate the growing needs of the congregation between World War I and World War II. Linnie I. Sweeney, the wife of Reverend Z. T. Sweeney, and her brother W. G. Irwin first discussed plans for a Gothic or Early American church, but her son and his nephew J. Irwin Miller, who had been following an architectural appreciation course at Yale University, proposed the idea for a Modern church instead. Designing and building the church became a two-generation family affair. [4] [5] [6]

The family was introduced to Eliel Saarinen through the Reverend's daughter Nettie Sweeney Miller, who became chairwoman of the building committee. Saarinen had only built one church before, in Estonia, and was apprehensive about the project until he heard the proposal for the building:

Our town is small and there are all sorts and conditions of men. While we should like the church to be beautiful, we do not want the first reaction to be, how much did the church cost. We want the poorest women in town to feel at home there and able to worship her God in those surroundings.

Nettie Sweeney Miller, [4]

Saarinen, the son of a Lutheran pastor, was thrilled by the idea and agreed to design the building. He disliked overly indulgent and theatrical churches and believed Gothic and Georgian style churches were overdone and no longer relevant. [5]

Design

The interior of the church's chapel 2015 Columbus Conversation - Davis, Prudon, and Joyner 11.jpg
The interior of the church's chapel

Rather than imitating an historic style with no personal relevance to Columbus, Saarinen chose to reflect the fundamentals of Christian faith in the church design, in an effort to unite the different denominations in the town. He believed Modern architecture was particularly appropriate for this form of Christianity – the church would be based on the fundamentals of religion and architecture and freed from traditional theology and style. [7]

Layout

The church is divided into four major features: the East Wing, containing the church proper, the chapel, and the auditorium; the West Wing, containing part of the Bible school; the connecting bridge between the East and West Wings, containing the rest of the Bible school; and the tower. The building is divided this way to create a balanced mass that is lively, yet restful. [7]

Sunken terrace

The area between the East and West wings is set 8 feet below street level. The northern part of this sunken area contained a pool of 140 by 120 feet that was drained and filled in 1957 due to leaks. Today it contains a grassy area used for outdoor gatherings. The rest of the area forms a terrace that is bordered by the wings of the building on three sides and partially covered by the connecting bridge. The entire terrace is paved in a mosaic pattern and surrounded by plant and flowerbeds. Weather permitting, the area is used for church and Bible school activities. [7]

Tower

The church tower was planned as a separate unit detached from the rest of the church, rising from the terrace level in an unbroken line of 166 feet. The base, measured at 17 by 23 feet, is located at the northeastern corner of the terrace pool.

The tower is designed in a simple, geometric form with plain brick walls that open into a perforated design at the top. The perforated section surrounds the sounding chamber from which the organ chimes are broadcast. The simple design of the tower gives it dignity and strength, and its separate placement in relation to the church proper provides balance to the building. [7]

Church proper

The church proper, located on the northeastern corner of the property, is set on a platform reached from the street by a set of nine steps. The entrance leads to the narthex, to the right of which is a coatroom and to the left of which are stairs that lead to the gallery. Three doors connect the narthex to the church nave, one to the central aisle, the second to the side aisle, and the last to a low passage that connects the church with the Bible school.

The church proper was designed to create a serene, spatial atmosphere and thus has a unique asymmetrical design. Saarinen did not believe in forced symmetry because it created an artificial and sterile environment. Instead, he chose to focus on creating balance between various features and points of interest in the room. To this end, the cross at the end of the chancel is off center, but the communion table, integral to the service, is placed at the central axis of the church. Symmetry is used to accentuate the spirit of the service, instead of creating an artificial environment. Similarly, the middle aisle of the nave and the pulpit are slightly off center as well.

Unlike many traditional churches, there are no stained glass windows. Instead, Saarinen designed windows with the same pattern used in the perforated part of the tower, adding to the unity and natural symmetry of the building. The flow of light into the room was designed to highlight the serenity of the room. Daylight from the floor-to-ceiling windows light up the nave and chancel during morning services, adding to the spiritual nature of the service.

The church is 144 feet in length, 46 feet in width, and seats 580 people. With an additional rear gallery that holds 180 and a choir of 40, its total capacity is 800 individuals. [7]

Chapel

The chapel, like the church, also features Saarinen's asymmetrical design. Instead of a central aisle, there is a wide aisle on the west side and a narrow aisle on the east. Similar floor to ceiling windows provide light here too.

Baptistry

The Baptistry is placed at the rear of the chancel, screened from the audience with swinging doors. It is lit with daylight from the windows in the church proper, and the light flows above those being baptized. The use of natural light to light the ceremony symbolizes the belief in the natural arrangements of death, burial, and resurrection. Facilities like dressing rooms, showers, and toilets for men and women are located on the second floor above.

Organ

The church organ was the latest model by the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company at the time and consists of 4 manuals and pedals, 72 speaking stops, 4695 pipes, 61 harp bars, 25 chimes, and 73 other couplers and accessories. The size of pipes vary from 32 feet to ¾ of an inch long. It is housed in a chamber on the left of the chancel.

The organ was adapted to suit the needs of the church. It is based on an 18th-century organ with great tonal richness and clarity, but modern mechanical additions were made to make it easier to play. This resulted in an organ based on a classical foundation with enough flexibility to perform music of all periods.

Disposition of the Organ [8]
Length of the largest pipe of a given voice given in feet, where 8' ≈ 2.5 m
Great (II)Swell (III)Choir (I)Positiv (IV)Pedal
16' Quintaton

8' Principal 8' Spitzflöte 8' Bourdon 4' Octave 4' Nachthorn 2 2/3' Quint 2' Super Octave 2' Blockflöte 1 3/5' Terz Fourniture III-IV Scharf III 16' Fagot 8' Trumpet Chimes

16' Gemshorn

8' Geigen Principal 8' Viole de Gambe 8' Viole Celeste 8' Stopped Diapason 8' Salicional 8' Aeoline 4' Octave Geigen 4' Flute Triangulaire 2' Fifteenth Plein Jeu III Cymbel III 16' Bombarde 8' Trompette 8' Oboe 8' Vox Humana 4' Clairon Tremulant

8' Diapason

8' Orchestral Flute 8' Dulciana 8' Unda Maris 8' Dulcet II 4' Fugara 4' Flauto Traverso 2' Zauberflöte 8' Clarinet 8' English Horn Tremulant Harp (TC) Celesta

8' Gedackt

8' Quintade 4' Principal 4' Rohrflöte 2' Octave 1 3/5' Tierce 1 1/3' Quint 1' Sifflöte Zimbel III 8' Krummhorn

16' Principal

16' Violone 16' Bourdon 16' Gemshorn (Swell) 8' Octave 8' Cello 8' Gedackt Pommer 8' Gemshorn (Swell) 5 1/3' Quint 4' Choral Bass 4' Nachthorn 2' Blockflöte Mixture III Cymbel II 32' Posaune 16' Posaune 8' Trumpet 4' Clarion Chimes (Great)

Tapestry

The 35 by 11 ½ foot tapestry decorating the church was designed by Saarinen and woven by trained Scandinavian weavers under the direction of his wife, Loja Saarinen. Woven with wool and flax, it depicts the Sermon on the Mount in an image of animals and listeners. It was the largest tapestry in the country at the time. [9]

Auditorium and reception room

The auditorium space is used for dinners, plays, and other entertainment involving a large number of people. The 500 seats can be stored under the stage to create an open space. Floor length windows open out into the terrace and pool for outdoor entertainment as well. The entire room is 92 feet long, 46 feet wide, and a little more than 12 feet high. The stage is 31 feet deep.

Connected to the auditorium is a reception room, used for a variety of activities and providing access to coat and toilet facilities. The room is 24 by 64 feet in size.

Kitchen and offices

The kitchen and pantry, an area of 900 square feet, is located on the East side of the East wing, arranged so that it does not interrupt church services and disturb the rest of the building. The office area adjacent to the East entrance hall consists of the Pastor's study, the secretary's office, a library, and a reception room. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary Redcliffe</span> Church in Bristol, England

The Church of St Mary the Virgin, widely known as St Mary Redcliffe, is the main Church of England parish church for the Redcliffe district of the city of Bristol, England. The first reference to a church on the site appears in 1158, with the present building dating from 1185 to 1872. The church is considered one of the country's finest and largest parish churches as well as an outstanding example of English Gothic architecture. The church is so large it is sometimes mistaken for Bristol Cathedral by tourists. The building has Grade I listed status, the highest possible category, by Historic England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Christian Church</span> Eero Saarinen-designed church in Columbus, Indiana

The North Christian Church is a church in Columbus, Indiana. Founded in 1955, it is part of the Christian Church. The church building of 1964 was designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen (1910–1961) and completed in 1964. Saarinen's father Eliel Saarinen had designed the First Christian Church in Columbus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King</span> Church in Hamilton, Ontario

The Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King is a Roman Catholic church in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The cathedral was consecrated on December 19, 1933. It is the seat of the bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton, and the cathedral of the Diocese of Hamilton. The cathedral contains the cathedra of the bishop, the Most Rev. Douglas Crosby. The cathedral was raised to the status of a minor basilica in February 2013 by Pope Benedict XVI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Astbury</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Mary's Church is an Anglican parish church in the village of Newbold Astbury, Cheshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building, and its architecture has been praised by a number of writers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Nether Alderley</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Mary's Church is an Anglican church at the end of a lane to the south of the village of Nether Alderley, Cheshire, England. It dates from the 14th century, with later additions and a major restoration in the late-19th century. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Peter's Church, Bolton</span> Anglican church in Greater Manchester, England

St Peter's Church, Bolton-le-Moors, commonly known as Bolton Parish Church, is a Church of England parish church in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. The parish church, dedicated to St Peter, is an example of the Gothic Revival style. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a Grade II* listed building, having been designated in 1974. St Peter's is an active parish church in the Diocese of Manchester and is part of the Bolton deanery and Bolton archdeaconry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Alban's Church, Macclesfield</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Alban's Church in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England, is a Roman Catholic parish church. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. It was designed by A. W. N. Pugin and is described as a "church of exceptional interest among the works of this major architect".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lancaster Priory</span> Church in Lancashire, England

Lancaster Priory, formally the Priory Church of St Mary, is the Church of England parish church of the city of Lancaster, Lancashire, England. It is located near Lancaster Castle and since 1953 has been designated a Grade I listed building. It is in the deanery of Lancaster, the archdeaconry of Lancaster and the Diocese of Blackburn. Its benefice is combined with that of St John and St Anne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rotherham Minster</span> Church in South Yorkshire, England

The Minster Church of All Saints or Rotherham Minster is the Anglican minster church of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. The Minster is a prominent example of Perpendicular Gothic architecture and various architectural historians have rated it highly. Nikolaus Pevsner describes it as "one of the largest and stateliest churches in Yorkshire", Simon Jenkins states it is "the best work in the county", and Alec Clifton-Taylor calls it the "glory of Rotherham". With its tall spire, it is Rotherham's most predominant landmark, and amongst the tallest churches in Yorkshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St John the Baptist's Church, Pilling</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St John the Baptist's Church is in the village of Pilling, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Garstang, the archdeaconry of Lancaster and the diocese of Blackburn. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. Its benefice is combined with those of St James, Stalmine, and St Mark, Eagland Hill. It is described as "a fine example of the late Gothic Revival church with much originality in detail".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Christ Church, Waterloo</span> Church in Merseyside, England

Old Christ Church is a redundant Anglican church located in Waterloo Road, Waterloo, Merseyside, England. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. It was declared redundant in 1982, and its functions have been replaced by a new Christ Church at the junction of Crosby Road South and Alexandra Road, Waterloo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Goosnargh</span> Church in Lancashire, England

The Church of St Mary the Virgin is an Anglican church in Goosnargh, a village north of Preston in Lancashire, England. The church dates from the Middle Ages; it was enlarged in the 16th century and restored twice in the 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St John's Minster, Preston</span> Anglican church in Lancashire, England

Preston Minster, formally the Minster Church of St John the Evangelist, is in Church Street, in the centre of Preston, Lancashire, England. From its origin it has been the parish church of Preston. It is an active Anglican church in the deanery of Preston, the archdeaconry of Lancaster and the diocese of Blackburn. Its benefice is united with that of St George, Preston. St John's is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Windermere</span> Church in Cumbria, England

St Mary's Church is in the town of Windermere, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Windermere, the archdeaconry of Westmorland and Furness, and the diocese of Carlisle. Its benefice is united with that of St Martin's Church, Bowness-on-Windermere; St Anne's Church, Ings; St Cuthbert's Church, Kentmere; St James' Church, Staveley and Jesus Church, Troutbeck. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Silas' Church, Blackburn</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Silas' Church is in Preston New Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Blackburn with Darwen, the archdeaconry of Blackburn, and the diocese of Blackburn. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary Magdalene's Church, Alsager</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Mary Magdalene's Church is in Crewe Road, Alsager, Cheshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Congleton, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield, and the diocese of Chester. Dedicated to Jesus' companion Mary Magdalene, it is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy Trinity Church, Southport</span> Church in Merseyside, England

Holy Trinity Church in Southport, Merseyside, England, is an Anglican parish church in the diocese of Liverpool and a Grade II* listed building. It was built in the early 20th century, and designed by Huon Matear in free Decorated style. It is constructed mainly in red brick, and has a tower, the upper parts of which are in elaborately decorated stone. Many of the internal furnishings are by the Bromsgrove Guild.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St John the Evangelist's Church, Yealand Conyers</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St John the Evangelist's Church is in Church Lane, Yealand Conyers, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Blackburn. The church was built in 1838, extended in 1861 and again in 1882. It is constructed mainly in limestone, and consists of a nave, a north aisle, a chancel and a west tower. Inside is a west gallery and stained glass by Shrigley and Hunt. The church holds services on Sundays and Wednesdays. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Lawrence's Church, Barton</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Lawrence's Church is in Garstang Road, Barton, Preston, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Blackburn. The church was built in 1895–96, and was designed by R. Knill Freeman. It is constructed in sandstone, and consists of a nave, aisles, a chancel and a southwest steeple. The church holds services on Sundays and Wednesdays. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Paul's Church, Longridge</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Paul's Church stands off Berry Lane, Longridge, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Blackburn. The church was built in 1886–1888, and the tower was added in 1936–37. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

References

  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. "First Christian Church". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2008.
  3. Thayer, Laura. "National Historic Landmark Nomination: First Christian Church". National Park Service. and Accompanying seven photos from 1999
  4. 1 2 Irwin Sweeney, Elsie. "Symbolism of the First Christian Church". Unpublished manuscript in Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. 1 2 A Look at Architecture. Columbus Area Visitor Center. 1998. p. 24. ISBN   0965929914.
  6. Merkel, Jayne (2005). Eero Saarinen. Phaidon Press. p. 153. ISBN   978-0714842776.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Tabernacle Church of Christ. Booklet published by Tabernacle Church of Christ in Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives. 1994.
  8. "Pipe Organ Database | Aeolian-Skinner Organ Co. (Opus 993, 1939) Tabernacle Christian Church / First Christian Church". Pipe Organ Database. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  9. Wheeler, Nancy (January 9, 1991). "Blessed Are The Cleaners". The Republic.