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 building is located at 1212 University Avenue in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was designed in 1935 by an architect named Claude A. Stiehl. He combined ideas from Asian, European, and Hawaiian building styles. This special church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. This means it is recognized as an important historical place.
Contents
A Unique Building
The church buildings are on a lovely piece of land. They are made from wood, stucco, and stone. The inside of the church has a courtyard. This courtyard is surrounded by covered walkways. These walkways connect the main church area to offices and meeting rooms.
Special Design Features
You will see red columns all around the church complex. These columns were inspired by famous buildings in Beijing, China. These include the Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven. Inside the main church area, called the nave, there is an altar made of Philippine mahogany wood. There are also four wood carvings. These carvings show symbols from different religions. They represent Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism.
A Diverse Community
The unique design of the church buildings shows the many different backgrounds of its members. In 1923, the people who started this church formed the first Protestant church in the Territory of Hawaii that welcomed all races.
Early Members
The first members were students from two different schools. Some came from Mid-Pacific Institute, a private school. This school helped local children learn American ways and Christian beliefs. Other students came from President William McKinley High School. In 1930, most of the students there were Japanese Americans.
Important Leaders
Some of the first leaders were White American teachers. They were very interested in Asia and Hawaii. The first pastor, Galen R. Weaver, served from 1923 to 1946. He studied at Ohio State University and Union Theological Seminary. He had originally planned to become a missionary in China.
Building the Church
In its early years, the church met at Mission Memorial Hall. This hall was across the street from the Kawaiahao Church and Mission Houses. Later, the city took over that hall. So, the church members started to raise money to get their own place.
Finding a Home
By 1929, the church had 174 members. This included 64 people of Japanese descent, 63 of Chinese descent, and 47 from other local backgrounds. Most of the members were under 30 years old. Even so, they managed to buy land on University Avenue. This location was close to Mid-Pacific Institute. They paid $20,000 for the land and to improve it.
Completing the Project
The entire building project cost almost $50,000. A large part of this money, $40,000, came from important local supporters. The church building was finished and 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
