Calvary Baptist Church (Wichita, Kansas) facts for kids
The Calvary Baptist Church is an important old church building located at 601 North Water Street in Wichita, Kansas. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 because of its special history.
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History of Calvary Baptist Church
Calvary Baptist Church started in 1878. It was created to serve the growing African-American community in Wichita. By the 1880s, many African-American families lived near the Sedgwick County Courthouse. Most of these families had moved to Wichita from southern states after the Civil War.
Growth of the Community
Wichita continued to attract more African-American residents. By 1920, the city's African-American population was 3,545. The total population of Wichita at that time was 72,200 people. Calvary Baptist Church had about 500 members. There were also 15 other active churches in the city. The historic African-American community grew to cover a 15-block area by the 1950s. Later, city changes caused many people to move from this area.
New Location and Museum
The church moved to a new building in 1972. This new location is about 4 miles (6.4 km) north of the old one. In 1975, Sedgwick County bought the historic old church building. Today, the building is home to The Kansas African American Museum.
Architecture of the Church Building
The current church building was constructed between 1917 and 1920. It replaced an earlier church built in 1911 that was found to be unsafe. The building is designed in the Classical Revival style. This style looks back to ancient Greek and Roman buildings. It is made of red brick with special limestone decorations.
Building Location and Size
The church building stands on the west side of Water Street, just north of Elm Street. The Sedgwick County Jail, built between 1990 and 2001, now surrounds three sides of the church. The building is about 50 feet (15.2 m) wide and 94 feet (28.6 m) long. It has a small, one-story addition at the back. The church has two main floors above a raised basement.
Grand Entrance and Details
The front of the church, which faces east, has a grand entrance. It features a triangular top, called a pediment. This pediment rests on four tall, two-story limestone columns. Stairs lead up from the street to a small porch, or portico, where the main doors are. A decorative border, called a dentiled cornice, extends from the pediment around the building. It is located just above the second floor.
Inside the Church
The inside of the church has a special worship area called the Akron-plan. This main sanctuary is in the center of the building. It has a three-level balcony that wraps around three sides. This design allowed more people to attend services. The chancel, where the altar is, sits in one corner. Organ pipes are built into the wall above it. Parts of the main floor can be closed off for Sunday school classes or other activities. The sanctuary has several beautiful stained glass windows. It also has an octagonal stained glass skylight. Many windows were given by church members and have special messages.
Church Organ and Cost
The church bought its organ from the M. P. Moller Company for $3,900. This organ has 21 stops and three keyboards. The lower level of the church has more meeting spaces, offices, and restrooms. The Negro Star newspaper reported on September 24, 1920, that the total cost to build the church was $60,000.
