First Baptist Church (Columbus, Indiana) facts for kids
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First Baptist Church
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First Baptist Church, Columbus, Indiana
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 Location in Bartholomew County, Indiana
Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3300 Fairlawn Dr., Columbus, Indiana |
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| Architect | Harry Weese |
| Architectural style | Modern |
| MPS | Modernism in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Design, and Art in Bartholomew County, 1942-1965 MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000707 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 16, 2000 |
| Designated NHL | May 16, 2000 |
The First Baptist Church is a really special building in Columbus, Indiana, United States. It's one of only six places in Columbus that are called a National Historic Landmark. This means it's super important to the history of the country! A famous architect named Harry Weese designed it. The church was finished in 1965. It still looks almost exactly like it did when it was first built. This church was one of the first to use a cool, new style called Modern architecture. It also had a different layout than most churches back then.
Where is the Church Located?
The First Baptist Church of Columbus is at 3300 Fairlawn Drive in Columbus, Indiana. It sits in a wide-open area in a neighborhood with family homes. This neighborhood was built in the 1960s and 1970s.
The church shares this open space with other buildings. These include Richards Elementary School and a golf course. Richards Elementary School was designed by Edward Larrabee Barnes. It was built in the same year as the church, 1965. The golf course and its clubhouse were built in 1972. These buildings stand out and help define the look of the neighborhood.
What Does the Church Look Like?
The First Baptist Church was one of the first groups to form in Columbus. They moved to this new location on Fairlawn Drive in 1965. The church building sits on a large piece of land, about 7.1 acres. They chose this spot because it had lots of room for future growth and parking.
The church building is made of red brick. It has five main parts that are built around a central open space called a courtyard. These parts are the entrance area (narthex), the main worship space (sanctuary), an office area, a fellowship hall, and a small chapel. The windows on the building are tall and narrow.
The sanctuary is the most important room inside the church. It doesn't have any windows. Instead, it uses simple parts like brick walls and beams. These parts come together to make a space that feels both dramatic and peaceful. Everything inside, like the walls or openings, is made a little bigger or taller than you might expect. This creates a unique and impressive feeling.
