Christ Church Chapel facts for kids
|
Christ Church Chapel
|
|
 |
|
| Location | 61 Grosse Pointe Blvd., Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Built | 1930 |
| Architect | Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue Associates et al. |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival, Late Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 93000424 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | September 10, 1993 |
The Christ Church Chapel is a beautiful old church building in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. People also call it the Christ Church Grosse Pointe or the Christ Episcopal Church. It's a special place because it was named a Michigan State Historic Site in 1992. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993, which means it's important to the history of the whole country.
Contents
History of Christ Church Chapel
The story of Christ Church Chapel began in 1923. At that time, a group of people in Grosse Pointe wanted to start their own Episcopal church. They were part of Christ Church Detroit. For a while, Sunday school classes were held in people's homes. Church services still took place at the main church in Detroit.
By 1928, work began on building a new church for the Grosse Pointe group. The building was finished in 1930. It was first called a "chapel" because it was meant to be just one part of a bigger church complex.
Growing the Church Campus
Over the next few years, more buildings were added. A rectory, which is a home for the church's priest, was built in 1938. Then, Miller Hall was added in 1941. These additions helped the church grow.
In 1947, the Grosse Pointe congregation became a full parish. This meant they were a complete, independent church. Later, in 1955, another building for education was added. This building was designed by a famous architect named Minoru Yamasaki. More additions were made over the years. In 2000, the education building was replaced with a brand new wing.
Design and Architecture of the Chapel
The Christ Church Chapel is built in a style called Neo-Gothic. This style looks like the grand cathedrals from the Middle Ages. The chapel has a shape like a Latin cross when you look at it from above. It also has a tall tower, about 50-foot (15 m) high, at one corner.
Special Features of the Chapel
The entrance area, called the narthex, looks like a part of the famous Wells Cathedral in England. The covered walkway, or cloister, was added in 1957. It was designed to look like the cloister at Canterbury Cathedral, another famous English church.
The outside of the chapel is covered with shiny sandstone. The roof is made of slate, with copper details and a copper spire pointing towards the sky. Inside, you'll find beautiful stained glass windows. These windows were made by different artists, including H. L. Willet and the Detroit Stained Glass Company.
The inside walls are made of limestone, and the floor is covered with flat stones. The church has amazing wood carvings. The reredos, which is a decorated screen behind the altar, was made by Mowbray & Co., Ltd. in London. The rood beam and other wooden pieces were crafted by J. Jungwirth Co. and Pom-McFate Co. from Detroit.
Other Buildings on the Property
Miller Hall and the rectory are built in a Tudor Revival style. This style complements the chapel's design, making all the buildings look good together.
