Church of the Crossroads facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Church of the Crossroads
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Church of the Crossroads
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 Location in Hawaii
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| Nearest city | Honolulu, Hawaii |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1935 |
| Architect | Claude A. Stiehl |
| Architectural style | Hawaiian style |
| NRHP reference No. | 92001551 |
| Added to NRHP | November 20, 1992 |
The Church of the Crossroads is a special building in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was designed in 1935 by Claude A. Stiehl. He mixed ideas from Asian, European, and Hawaiian building styles. Because of its unique design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. This means it's an important historical place.
The church sits on a beautiful piece of land. The buildings are made from wood, stucco, and stone. Inside, there's a peaceful courtyard with covered walkways. These walkways connect the main church area to offices and meeting rooms. You'll see red columns all around. These columns were inspired by famous buildings in Beijing, China, like the Summer Palace. The main part of the church, called the nave, has an altar made of Philippine mahogany. It also has four wood carvings with symbols from different religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism.
Contents
A Church for Everyone
The unique style of the church buildings shows how diverse its members are. In 1923, the people who started this church created something new. It was the first Protestant church in Hawaii that welcomed people of all races.
Early Members
The first members were students from two schools. One was Mid-Pacific Institute, a private school. It aimed to help local children learn American ways and Christian beliefs. The other was President William McKinley High School, a public school. In 1930, many students there were Japanese Americans.
Some of the first leaders were White American teachers. They had strong connections to Asia and Hawaii. The first pastor, Galen R. Weaver, served from 1923 to 1946. He had studied at Ohio State University and Union Theological Seminary. He had originally planned to be a missionary in China.
Finding a Home
In its early years, the church met at Mission Memorial Hall. This building was across the street from the Kawaiahao Church and Mission Houses. Later, the city took over that hall. So, the church members began to save money and look for their own place.
Buying the Land
By 1929, the church had 174 members. This included 64 people of Japanese background and 63 of Chinese background. There were also 47 people from other local ethnic groups. Most members were under 30 years old. Even so, they managed to buy land on University Avenue. It was close enough to walk from Mid-Pacific Institute. The land cost $20,000.
Building the Church
When the church building was finished, the whole project cost almost $50,000. A large part of this money, $40,000, came from important local supporters. The Church of the Crossroads was officially opened in December 1935.
Images for kids
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Back end of nave
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Loggia leading to front entrance
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University Avenue side of church lot
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Banyan planted in 1935 by Wo Sing Ho
