Boston Avenue Methodist Church facts for kids
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Boston Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, South
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The church in May 2022
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 Location in Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1301 South Boston Ave., Tulsa, Oklahoma  United States |
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| Built | 1927–1929 |
| Architect | Bruce Goff from a design by Adah Robinson |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002270 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 31, 1978 |
| Designated NHL | January 20, 1999 |
The Boston Avenue United Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a very special building. It was finished in 1929 and is known as one of the best examples of Art Deco architecture in the United States. Art Deco is a cool, modern style from the 1920s and 1930s. This church is so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was named a National Historic Landmark in 1999. It even has 15 floors!
Contents
How the Church Was Built
The Boston Avenue Church cost about $1.25 million to build. Two people are usually given credit for its amazing design: Adah Robinson and Bruce Goff. Adah Robinson was an art teacher at Central High School in Tulsa. She later led the art department at the University of Tulsa.
Who Designed It?
Adah Robinson first drew the main ideas for the church. Bruce Goff, who used to be her student in high school, then took her drawings. He created the detailed design for the church. Officially, the architecture firm Rush, Endacott and Rush is credited. Bruce Goff worked there since he was 12 and became a partner in 1930.
There's still some discussion about who did more of the design work. The church believes Adah Robinson designed the building. However, experts on Bruce Goff say it clearly shows his style.
Unique Design Features
The original church building had a large, half-circle shaped main room. It also featured a tall tower that reached 225 feet (about 68.5 meters) into the sky. There was also a wing with classrooms. The straight, soaring lines of the tower connect it to old Gothic Cathedrals. They also show off the vertical style common in Art Deco buildings.
At the very top of the tower, and on other high points, you can see special sculptures. They look like two hands reaching up in prayer. This idea of praying hands is seen all over the building. It's one of the design elements that came from Adah Robinson's first drawings.
Materials and Sculptures
Like many Art Deco buildings, the Boston Avenue Church uses many different materials. You can find metal, glass, terra cotta, Indiana limestone, and Minnesota granite. The outside of the church has many terra cotta sculptures. These were made by a sculptor named Robert Garrison from Denver. He had also been a student of Adah Robinson's.
The sculptures show groups of people praying. They represent spiritual life, religious education, and worship. In these groups, you can again see the two hands together design.
Circuit Riders and Wesley Family
Above the south entrance, there are statues of "Circuit Riders" on horseback. These were early Methodists who traveled around to spread their faith. Two of the riders are real people: Bishop Francis Asbury, the first American Methodist bishop, and Bishop William McKendree. The rider in the middle stands for all the other men of God who traveled on horseback. The face of this rider was modeled after the church minister's father-in-law, Rev. T.L. Darnell, who had been a circuit rider for 50 years!
Above the north entrance, you can find statues of John Wesley, his brother Charles Wesley, and their mother, Susanna Wesley. These are important figures in the history of the Methodist church.
Nature's Touch
Other parts of the church's outside show classic Art Deco designs of plants. These designs, like the stained glass windows, were inspired by plants found in Oklahoma. The most notable flowers used are the tritomas and coreopsis.
Church Recognition and Additions
The building quickly became famous in the world of architecture. A well-known art critic, Sheldon Chaney, praised it in his book. He said its details were "daringly new" and its designs "fresh and vital."
In 1978, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Then, in 1999, it was named a National Historic Landmark.
In 1993, new murals were added to celebrate the church's 100th anniversary. These murals were designed by Chicago artist Angelo Gherardi. He made sure they matched the Art Deco style of the church.
A columbarium was finished inside the building in 2000. This is a place where the ashes of church members and their families can be kept. It was designed by Tulsa architect Roger Coffey. The columbarium has a beautiful 6-foot (1.8-meter) by 25-foot (7.6-meter) cut glass window. This window was created by Richard Bohm of the Tulsa Stained Glass company.
A stone from the Boston Avenue United Methodist Church is also part of the Chicago Tribune Building. It's one of over 100 stones from famous buildings and places around the world.
The Church Organ
The Boston Avenue Church has a very large Möller pipe organ. It was first dedicated in 1962 and has been expanded and changed several times since then. It's a very impressive musical instrument!
The church was built by the W. S. Bellows Construction Corporation.
See also
