Christ Episcopal Church (Joliet, Illinois) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Christ Episcopal Church
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A postcard of the church from 1913
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 Location in Illinois
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| Location | 75 West Van Buren Street Joliet, Illinois |
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| Built | 1884 |
| Architect | F. S. Allen |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival (Romanesque Revival) |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002603 |
| Added to NRHP | August 12, 1982 |
The Christ Episcopal Church was a very old and important building in Joliet, Illinois. It was once a beautiful church that stood for many years. Sadly, a fire destroyed most of it in 2006.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's Story
A group of people who followed the Episcopal faith started meeting in Joliet, Illinois, way back in 1865. This was one of the first five Episcopal groups in all of Illinois!
By the 1880s, their group had grown. They needed a much bigger church building. So, they asked a talented architect named Frank Shaver Allen to design a new one. He started building it in 1884.
Allen was quite young, only 24, when he designed the church. He had already designed other buildings in Illinois. Later, he moved to Joliet and designed many more important buildings, like Joliet Township High School.
The Church's Importance and Its End
The Christ Episcopal Church was recognized as a special historic place in 1982. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect important buildings across the country.
The church closed its doors in 2004. The people who worshipped there moved to a different church. In 2006, some local investors bought the building. They wanted to turn it into a concert hall.
However, on October 8, 2006, a big fire broke out. Most of the old church building was destroyed. What will happen to the land where it once stood is still unknown.
How the Church Looked
The Christ Episcopal Church was a large building. It was about 120 feet long and 60 feet wide. Inside, it could hold about 700 people! There was also a smaller chapel on the west side, about 50 feet by 40 feet.
Building Style and Materials
The church was built using special stone from Joliet. Its design mostly followed the Gothic Revival style. This style often features tall arches and pointed windows, like old European cathedrals. It also had some touches of the Romanesque Revival style.
The house where the church's minister lived, called the parsonage, had a different look. It showed parts of the Queen Anne style. This style often has towers, turrets, and decorative details.
The church had a bell tower where the main church building met the parish hall. This tower had a cool, castle-like top called a castellated turret. Inside the church, the main walkway was not vaulted. Instead, it had a very high, pointed ceiling made with strips of red oak wood. Even the altar and the benches (pews) were carved from red oak. The parish hall, which was a separate meeting area, was updated in 1925.
