Central Woodward Christian Church facts for kids
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Central Woodward Christian Church
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| Location | 9000 Woodward Avenue Detroit, Michigan |
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| Built | 1926 |
| Architect | George D. Mason |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| MPS | Religious Structures of Woodward Avenue TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002896 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 3, 1982 |
The Historic Little Rock Missionary Baptist Church is a beautiful old church in Detroit, Michigan. It used to be called the Central Woodward Christian Church. This church is built in a special style called Gothic Revival. Because of its history and design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.
This building was first home to the Central Woodward Christian Church. This group of people belonged to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Later, the Central Woodward Christian Church moved to Troy, Michigan. The building was then sold to the Little Rock Missionary Baptist Church.
Contents
The Church Building's Design
The church is built in a classic Gothic Revival style. It is made from a type of stone called Indiana limestone. The roof is made of slate, and it has copper decorations.
Amazing Stained Glass Windows
One of the most special parts of the church is its stained glass windows. Some of these windows were put in by the first church group. A designer named A. Kay Herbert created two windows. One shows George Washington, and the other shows Abraham Lincoln holding the Emancipation Proclamation.
In the 1990s, the Little Rock congregation started adding more stained glass windows. These new windows replaced older, clear glass ones. One of the most famous new windows is called the African American Pulpit window. It shows important leaders like Reverend Richard Allen, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Reverend Jesse Jackson, Reverend C. L. Franklin, and Reverend James Holley. Reverend Holley was the pastor of the Little Rock church.
History of the Church Building
The Disciples of Christ church group first came to Detroit in 1846. A church was started by Reverend William Nay. By the 1890s, the group had grown a lot. They built a large church in downtown Detroit.
Merging Congregations and a New Building
In 1926, two Detroit church groups, Central Christian Church and Woodward Christian Church, joined together. This happened under the leadership of Dr. Edgar Dewitt Jones. Dr. Jones had become the pastor of Central Christian Church in 1920. When the groups merged in 1926, he became the pastor of the new, combined church.
In 1928, a brand new building was constructed. It was built where the old Woodward Avenue Church used to be. This new building was made to hold the growing church group. They hired an architect named George Mason to design the building. The church opened its doors in 1928.
A New Home for the Original Church
In the late 1970s, the original Central Woodward Christian Church group moved. They left Detroit and went to a northern suburb called Troy. In Troy, they built another church building. This new building is located at 3955 West Big Beaver Road in Troy. The group kept the name Central Woodward Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Since moving to Troy, the church has had several pastors.
The Building's New Chapter
In 1978, the church building at 9000 Woodward Avenue was sold. It was bought by the Little Rock Missionary Baptist Church. This church group was founded in 1938 and is mainly an African American congregation. Today, the church is known as 'The Historic Little Rock Baptist Church'. A special historical marker from the State of Michigan remembers the church's importance.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia Cristiana de Central Woodward para niños
