St. John's Presbyterian Church (Berkeley, California)
May 01, 2024
The Julia Morgan Theater, located in the former St. John's Presbyterian Church, is a historic building in Berkeley, California designed by architect Julia Morgan.[3] The wooden building at 2640 College Avenue is built in the American Craftsman style with an exterior wood-shingle finish known as Berkeley Brown Shingle.[4] The church building was desanctified and sold when the congregation moved to a new building in 1974. It now houses the Berkeley Playhouse. The structure is #8 on the city of Berkeley's list of historic landmarks. In 1975 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places (listing #74000507).[5]
The church was organized in 1907 to serve the influx of people moving from San Francisco to Berkeley after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, and the church building was completed in 1910. The church was named to honor St. John's Presbyterian Church in San Francisco, which many of the new congregants had attended and whose pastor, Dr. George Granville Eldridge, became the founding pastor of St. John's in Berkeley.[6] Subsequent pastors included Dr. Stanley Armstrong Hunter (1924-1954), Dr. James Comfort Smith (1954-1970), Dr. Robert A. McKenzie (1970-1983), Dr. Thomas McKnight (1984-2001), and Dr. Max Lynn (2002–present).[7]
Architectureedit
Julia Morgan and her assistant Walter Steilberg chose a design with broad gables and a stained shingle exterior. The redwood paneled interior leaves the wooden beams and trusses completely exposed, while smoked glass clerestory windows provide most of the light. "This structural exhibitionism forms a worship space of great visual interest. … The small scale of the church and the warm color of the wood help create a cozy and restful space while the plain lumber serves to remind one of God's creation—the unadorned beauty of natural materials."[8] Morgan herself considered it to be her best Craftsman building.[9]
Arts center and theateredit
In 1974-75 the congregation moved to a new modern sanctuary at 2727 College Avenue, and the fate of the Julia Morgan building was uncertain. The desire to preserve it from demolition was the major catalyst leading to the formation of the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association in 1974.[10] The building seemed suitable for use as an arts center, and after a brief incarnation as the Center for World Music, the Julia Morgan Center for the Arts took over the building in 1980. It housed the Berkeley Opera, the Berkeley Ballet Theater, and various theatrical productions as well as arts classes. In 2009 the Julia Morgan Center merged with the Berkeley Playhouse, a theater company founded in 2007 by artistic director Elizabeth McKoy.[11] The Playhouse produces several plays and musicals per year, as well as offering theatrical instruction for a variety of ages and skill levels. The building is known as the Julia Morgan Theatre.[12]
^"Julia Morgan Center, Berkeley Playhouse Merge", Berkeley Daily Planet, July 16, 2009
^"About Berkeley Playhouse". Berkeley Playhouse. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
External linksedit
Julia Morgan Theatre, at Berkeley Playhouse website
website for current St. John's Presbyterian Church
May 01, 2024
john, presbyterian, church, berkeley, california, julia, morgan, theater, located, former, john, presbyterian, church, historic, building, berkeley, california, designed, architect, julia, morgan, wooden, building, 2640, college, avenue, built, american, craft. The Julia Morgan Theater located in the former St John s Presbyterian Church is a historic building in Berkeley California designed by architect Julia Morgan 3 The wooden building at 2640 College Avenue is built in the American Craftsman style with an exterior wood shingle finish known as Berkeley Brown Shingle 4 The church building was desanctified and sold when the congregation moved to a new building in 1974 It now houses the Berkeley Playhouse The structure is 8 on the city of Berkeley s list of historic landmarks In 1975 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places listing 74000507 5 St John s Presbyterian ChurchU S National Register of Historic PlacesBerkeley Landmark No 8St John s Presbyterian Church building in 2009Show map of Oakland CaliforniaShow map of CaliforniaShow map of the United StatesLocation2640 College Ave Berkeley CaliforniaCoordinates37 51 44 N 122 15 8 W 37 86222 N 122 25222 W 37 86222 122 25222Area0 6 acres 0 24 ha Built1910ArchitectJulia MorganArchitectural styleAmerican CraftsmanNRHP reference No 74000507 1 BERKL No 8Significant datesAdded to NRHPAugust 7 1974Designated BERKLDecember 15 1975 2 Contents 1 Church 2 Architecture 3 Arts center and theater 4 References 5 External linksChurch editThe church was organized in 1907 to serve the influx of people moving from San Francisco to Berkeley after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the church building was completed in 1910 The church was named to honor St John s Presbyterian Church in San Francisco which many of the new congregants had attended and whose pastor Dr George Granville Eldridge became the founding pastor of St John s in Berkeley 6 Subsequent pastors included Dr Stanley Armstrong Hunter 1924 1954 Dr James Comfort Smith 1954 1970 Dr Robert A McKenzie 1970 1983 Dr Thomas McKnight 1984 2001 and Dr Max Lynn 2002 present 7 Architecture editJulia Morgan and her assistant Walter Steilberg chose a design with broad gables and a stained shingle exterior The redwood paneled interior leaves the wooden beams and trusses completely exposed while smoked glass clerestory windows provide most of the light This structural exhibitionism forms a worship space of great visual interest The small scale of the church and the warm color of the wood help create a cozy and restful space while the plain lumber serves to remind one of God s creation the unadorned beauty of natural materials 8 Morgan herself considered it to be her best Craftsman building 9 Arts center and theater editIn 1974 75 the congregation moved to a new modern sanctuary at 2727 College Avenue and the fate of the Julia Morgan building was uncertain The desire to preserve it from demolition was the major catalyst leading to the formation of the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association in 1974 10 The building seemed suitable for use as an arts center and after a brief incarnation as the Center for World Music the Julia Morgan Center for the Arts took over the building in 1980 It housed the Berkeley Opera the Berkeley Ballet Theater and various theatrical productions as well as arts classes In 2009 the Julia Morgan Center merged with the Berkeley Playhouse a theater company founded in 2007 by artistic director Elizabeth McKoy 11 The Playhouse produces several plays and musicals per year as well as offering theatrical instruction for a variety of ages and skill levels The building is known as the Julia Morgan Theatre 12 References edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 Berkeley Landmarks Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association Retrieved 2013 03 04 The beauties that legendary Julia Morgan left behind San Jose Mercury News July 26 2008 The brown shingle home A distinctive Berkeley feature The Berkeley Daily Planet October 7 2001 berkeleyheritage com St John s Thompson Daniella St John s Presbyterian Church Berkeley Landmarks Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association Retrieved 4 November 2017 History St John s Presbyterian Church Center Retrieved 25 October 2013 Brack Mark L Redefining Religious Architecture cited at berkeleyheritage com An Architect from the Inside Out Los Angeles Times September 4 1988 berkeleyheritage com BAHA Julia Morgan Center Berkeley Playhouse Merge Berkeley Daily Planet July 16 2009 About Berkeley Playhouse Berkeley Playhouse Retrieved 5 September 2012 External links editJulia Morgan Theatre at Berkeley Playhouse website website for current St John s Presbyterian Church Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St John 27s Presbyterian Church Berkeley California amp oldid 1177250656, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
