Christ Church Cathedral (Indianapolis) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Church Cathedral |
|
|---|---|
| The Cathedral Church of Christ | |
Christ Church Cathedral in 2016
|
|
| Location |  Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Episcopal Church |
| Website | cccindy.org |
| History | |
| Founded | 1837 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | William Tinsley |
| Style | English Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1857 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Indianapolis |
Christ Church Cathedral is a beautiful and historic church in Indianapolis, Indiana. It serves as the main church, or cathedral, for the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis. The church community, called a parish, officially started in 1837.
The building you see today was built in 1857. It stands on Monument Circle in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. This church replaced an earlier one that was on the same spot. An architect named William Tinsley designed it. The church is built in the English Gothic Revival style.
It is the oldest church building in Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana that has been used continuously. It is also the oldest building on Monument Circle. Christ Church is famous for its amazing music. This includes its large pipe organs and its professional choirs for boys and girls. The church is also known for helping the community. They host a popular strawberry festival each year to raise money for good causes. Christ Church Cathedral was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 10, 1973.
Contents
History
The first Episcopalians in Indianapolis met in different places in the 1820s and 1830s. Christ Church parish was the first Protestant Episcopal church in Indianapolis. It officially began on July 13, 1837.
Building the First Church
In 1838, the Christ Church members bought land on Governor's Circle. This area is now known as Monument Circle. They started building their first church there. The first stone was laid on May 7, 1838.
This church was a small, wooden building designed in a Gothic Revival style. It was painted white and measured about 29 feet by 43 feet. It had a simple entrance and a balcony. About 350 people could sit inside. The first church service was held on November 18, 1838. Bishop Jackson Kemper officially dedicated the church on December 16, 1838.
Christ Church was one of five early churches on the Circle in downtown Indianapolis. It is the only one still there today. By the mid-1850s, the first church building was getting old. The members decided to replace it. In 1857, another church, Bethel AME Church, bought the old Christ Church building. They moved it to Georgia Street. It was used there until a fire destroyed it in 1862.
The Current Church Building
In 1857, Christ Church built its second church. This is the Christ Church Cathedral we see today. It was built on the same spot as the first church. Located at 131 Monument Circle, it is the oldest church building in Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana that has been used without stopping. It is also the oldest building on Monument Circle.
The Irish-born architect William Tinsley designed the church. He used an English Gothic Revival style. It cost between $32,438 and $37,750 to build. The first stone was laid on June 24, 1857. The first service in the new building was on May 22, 1859. A tall, pointed top, called a spire, was added to the church's tower in 1869. This cost $1,425. Electric lights were put in during 1886.
Over the years, Christ Church has been updated many times. In 1900, architects renovated and redecorated the church. They made the altar area deeper and added an outside porch. Another big renovation happened in 1927. The basement was dug out to create more space for classes and activities. More updates took place in 1936 and 1954. The 1954 renovation cost about $300,000. It made the inside of the church match its English Gothic style better. The church was also renovated in 1973 and 1983.
Christ Church became the official cathedral for the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis on October 10, 1954. In the 1960s, the church faced challenges as downtown Indianapolis changed. However, it decided to stay active in the community. Christ Church was recognized for its work in the city during the 1960s. Christ Church Cathedral was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 10, 1973.
What Does It Look Like?
_-_DPLA_-_fc8eb580c5daac6f9bfad537a20d6a6b.jpg)
William Tinsley's design for Christ Church is in an early English Gothic style. It has a cross-shaped layout. The main altar is at the east end, and the front of the church faces west. The outside was originally red brick but was later changed to limestone.
Outside the Church
An eight-sided spire was added to the tower in 1869. This was ten years after the church was built. The spire has a decorative top with the Greek letters for "Christ." The outside of the church also has tall, Gothic-style windows and a pointed roof. The front and sides each have three tall, narrow windows. The gables (the triangular parts of the roof) have round windows with a three-leaf design. In 1900, an outdoor porch, called a lychgate, was added.
Inside the Church
We don't know the original color of the inside walls. However, the beamed ceiling was first painted light blue. Two panels above the altar had words from a hymn called Sanctus. The church originally had pews entered from the sides. Later, a middle aisle was added. The choir area was lit by beautiful leaded-glass windows.
Updates inside the church included a white marble altar in 1900. A wooden screen was put in to separate the altar area from the rest of the church. There are also special memorials. These include a stained-glass window showing the Resurrection and a window series about the church's history. There is also a white marble baptismal font and a bronze statue of John the Baptist. In 1954, the inner doors and altar area were painted red. This color symbolizes the Holy Spirit.
Making a Difference
Christ Church is very committed to helping others. It is a strong leader in the Indianapolis community. The church is especially known for its community service and charity work.
Helping the Community
Because Christ Church is in the center of downtown Indianapolis, it became a hub for many good causes. During World War II and the Korean War, it ran a canteen. This fed and entertained thousands of military members. The church also hosts a famous annual strawberry festival. Christ Church members held a strawberry festival as early as 1857. This was to raise money for building the current church.
Since 1965, Christ Church Cathedral has hosted a strawberry festival every summer. It raises money for local, national, and international charities. The festival was even shown on the Food Network in 2007.
Christ Church helped start several other Episcopal churches in Indianapolis. These include Saint Luke's, Grace, Saint Paul's, Saint George's, and Saint Philip's. In 1839, Christ Church also started an early school for young women. This school later became Saint Mary's Seminary.
Christ Church parish has a special connection with the Cathedral of the Resurrection in Brasilia, Brazil. Locally, the church works closely with many non-profit groups. These include Dayspring and Exodus Refugee Immigration. It held a special service after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It also co-hosts a yearly memorial service for homeless people who have died.
Music at the Cathedral
Since it began in 1837, Christ Church Cathedral has had a strong tradition of church music. In the 1880s, the cathedral started a Choir of Men and Boys. This was influenced by a movement that focused on Anglican choir music. By the mid-1900s, this choir became fully professional. It was one of the few such choirs in Indiana. In the late 1930s, girls started attending rehearsals. They wanted to be formally included. This led to the creation of a Girls’ Choir in 1945.
For over 100 years, the Choir of Men and Boys sang at the 11:00 a.m. service. The Girls' Choir sang at the 9:00 a.m. service.
In 2012, the two choirs joined together into one group. This group now sings at the 10:00 a.m. service. This continues the cathedral's commitment to excellent music. It also embraces a wider and more inclusive view of sacred music.
In the early 2000s, the Cathedral started a 1:00 p.m. Sunday service in Spanish. They also created the Coro Latinoamericano (Latin American Choir). This choir leads music for the Spanish-language services. This change helped the church become more bilingual and multicultural. Members of the Spanish-speaking community have worked to increase their representation in church life. The cathedral has since worked to expand its music and services. This reflects its growing diversity and commitment to including everyone.
Amazing Organs
The cathedral has several impressive organs. The Chancel organ was built in 1989 by Hellmuth Wolff. The Gallery organ was a gift from Ruth Lilly. It was built in 1991 by Taylor and Boody Organbuilders. The church also has a continuo organ built in 1996 by John Brombaugh. In 2018, a Model D Grand Piano was added. It was built by Steinway & Sons.
Who Belongs to the Church?
The church started with thirty members in 1837. By 1850, it had 153 adults and 108 children. In the mid-1860s, during the American Civil War, there were about 250 members. By 1882, Christ Church was one of six Episcopal churches in Indianapolis. In 1963, it had 1,145 members. By 1980, this number had gone down to 572. As of 2025, the church has 472 active members. About 260 people attend Sunday services on average.
Notable Members
- Eli Lilly, a famous industrialist
- Andrea Hunley, a State Senator
See also
