The First Congregational Church of Detroit was established on December 25, 1844. Two church buildings were built near the Detroit River. The third building was constructed at the present site in 1891, and was designed by architect John Lyman Faxon. An addition to the church, known as the Angel's Wing, was constructed in 1921 by Albert Kahn.[3]
Gaius Glenn Atkins served twice as minister of the church in the early 20th century.
Architectureedit
The church is designed in a blend of the Romanesque and Byzantine styles,[4] using rough-hewn, warm red limestone. The Woodward facade has a five-bay loggia, with a parapeted front gable. Above that are rounded windows with tracery framed by a rounded arch. The church also features a 120-foot campanile with many narrow arcades. The church is topped by an 8-foot copper figure of the Archangel Uriel.[5]
The church is patterned after churches found in Venice and Ravenna. The sanctuary, which resembles the lower church of St. Francis of Assisi,[4] boasts carved wood, ceiling portraits, rose windows and sumptuous colors.[3] The interior murals were designed and executed by Lyle Durgin,[6] completed in December, 1891.[7]
Living museumedit
The church offers exhibits about the historical and architectural aspects of the church, its buildings and activities. Visitors can go on self-guided tours of the historic facilities and buildings.
The church also hosts the Underground Railroad Living Museum, a storytelling simulation of the original Underground Railroad.
Galleryedit
First Congregational Church, c. 1899
First Congregational Church, c. 1903
First Congregational Church in 2008
The angel Uriel atop the First Congregational Church
Willard, Frances Elizabeth; Livermore, Mary Ashton Rice (1897). American Women: Fifteen Hundred Biographies with Over 1,400 Portraits : a Comprehensive Encyclopedia of the Lives and Achievements of American Women During the Nineteenth Century (Public domain ed.). Mast, Crowell & Kirkpatrick. p. 265.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to First Congregational Church (Detroit, Michigan).
External linksedit
May 06, 2024
first, congregational, church, detroit, first, congregational, church, located, east, forest, avenue, corner, forest, woodward, avenue, midtown, detroit, michigan, designated, michigan, state, historic, site, 1974, listed, national, register, historic, places,. The First Congregational Church is located at 33 East Forest Avenue on the corner of Forest and Woodward Avenue in Midtown Detroit Michigan It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1974 2 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 1 First Congregational ChurchU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S Historic districtContributing propertyMichigan State Historic SiteFirst Congregational Church in 2019 photograph by Carol M Highsmith Location33 East Forest AvenueDetroit MichiganCoordinates42 21 19 N 83 3 46 W 42 35528 N 83 06278 W 42 35528 83 06278Built1891 1921 addition ArchitectJohn Lyman Faxon Albert KahnArchitectural styleRomanesque RevivalNRHP reference No 79001173 1 Significant datesAdded to NRHPJune 4 1979Designated MSHSJuly 26 1974 2 Contents 1 History 2 Architecture 3 Living museum 4 Gallery 5 References 5 1 Bibliography 6 External linksHistory editThe First Congregational Church of Detroit was established on December 25 1844 Two church buildings were built near the Detroit River The third building was constructed at the present site in 1891 and was designed by architect John Lyman Faxon An addition to the church known as the Angel s Wing was constructed in 1921 by Albert Kahn 3 Gaius Glenn Atkins served twice as minister of the church in the early 20th century Architecture editThe church is designed in a blend of the Romanesque and Byzantine styles 4 using rough hewn warm red limestone The Woodward facade has a five bay loggia with a parapeted front gable Above that are rounded windows with tracery framed by a rounded arch The church also features a 120 foot campanile with many narrow arcades The church is topped by an 8 foot copper figure of the Archangel Uriel 5 The church is patterned after churches found in Venice and Ravenna The sanctuary which resembles the lower church of St Francis of Assisi 4 boasts carved wood ceiling portraits rose windows and sumptuous colors 3 The interior murals were designed and executed by Lyle Durgin 6 completed in December 1891 7 Living museum editThe church offers exhibits about the historical and architectural aspects of the church its buildings and activities Visitors can go on self guided tours of the historic facilities and buildings The church also hosts the Underground Railroad Living Museum a storytelling simulation of the original Underground Railroad Gallery edit nbsp First Congregational Church c 1899 nbsp First Congregational Church c 1903 nbsp First Congregational Church in 2008 nbsp The angel Uriel atop the First Congregational ChurchReferences edit a b National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service January 23 2007 a b First Congregational Church Michigan State Housing Development Authority Archived from the original on May 17 2012 Retrieved September 2 2010 a b First Congregational Church of Detroit Archived 2008 05 25 at the Wayback Machine History page a b Tutag Nola Huse amp Hamilton Lucy 1987 Discovering Stained Glass in Detroit p 57 Wayne State University Press First Congregational Church from Detroit1701 About Us First Congregational Church of Detroit First Congregational Church of Detroit Retrieved March 1 2017 Willard amp Livermore 1897 p 265 Bibliography edit Willard Frances Elizabeth Livermore Mary Ashton Rice 1897 American Women Fifteen Hundred Biographies with Over 1 400 Portraits a Comprehensive Encyclopedia of the Lives and Achievements of American Women During the Nineteenth Century Public domain ed Mast Crowell amp Kirkpatrick p 265 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to First Congregational Church Detroit Michigan External links editOfficial First Congregational Church website Underground Railroad Living Museum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title First Congregational Church Detroit amp oldid 1172326830, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
