First Christian Church (Columbus, Indiana) facts for kids
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First Christian Church
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Streetside view of the church
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 Location in Bartholomew County, Indiana
Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 531 Fifth St., Columbus, Indiana |
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| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Architect | Eliel Saarinen |
| Architectural style | International Modern |
| NRHP reference No. | 01000067 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | January 3, 2001 |
| Designated NHL | January 3, 2001 |
The First Christian Church in Columbus, Indiana, is a special building. It was built in 1942 and was one of the first churches in the United States to have a modern design. It was also the very first modern building in Columbus!
A famous Finnish architect named Eliel Saarinen designed this church. It has a main hall with a glass front, a tall tower, and a connecting bridge. Inside, things like the lights, screens, and furniture were designed by Saarinen's son, Eero Saarinen, and Charles Eames. Eero Saarinen later designed another famous church in Columbus, the North Christian Church.
Because of its unique design and history, the National Park Service named the First Christian Church a National Historic Landmark in 2001. This means it's a very important place in American history.
Contents
Planning a New Church Building
After World War I and World War II, the church needed a bigger building. More people were joining the congregation, and the old church was too small.
Linnie I. Sweeney and her brother W. G. Irwin first thought about building a church in an older style, like Gothic or Early American. But Linnie's son, J. Irwin Miller, had been studying architecture at Yale University. He suggested building a Modern church instead. So, designing and building the church became a project for two generations of the family!
Choosing the Architect
The family met Eliel Saarinen through Nettie Sweeney Miller, who was Reverend Sweeney's daughter. She became the leader of the building committee. Saarinen had only built one church before, in Estonia. He was a bit unsure about the project until he heard what the church wanted:
Our town is small and there are all sorts and conditions of men. While we should like the church to be beautiful, we do not want the first reaction to be, how much did the church cost. We want the poorest women in town to feel at home there and able to worship her God in those surroundings.
Saarinen, whose father was a Lutheran pastor, loved this idea. He agreed to design the church. He didn't like churches that were too fancy or dramatic. He also felt that Gothic and Georgian style churches were old-fashioned and didn't fit modern times.
Church Design and Features
Instead of copying an old style, Saarinen wanted the church's design to show the basic ideas of Christian faith. He hoped this would help unite the different church groups in Columbus. He believed that Modern architecture was perfect for this kind of Christianity. The church would be based on the true meaning of religion and architecture, free from old traditions and styles.
Building Layout
The church building has four main parts:
- The East Wing, which holds the main church area, the chapel, and an auditorium.
- The West Wing, which has part of the Bible school.
- A bridge that connects the East and West Wings, holding the rest of the Bible school.
- The tall tower.
This design makes the building feel balanced and lively, but also peaceful.
Sunken Terrace Area
The space between the East and West wings is about 8 feet lower than the street. This area used to have a large pool, but it was drained and filled in 1957 because of leaks. Today, it's a grassy area used for outdoor gatherings.
The rest of this lower area is a terrace. It's surrounded by the church wings on three sides and partly covered by the connecting bridge. The terrace floor has a beautiful mosaic pattern, and there are plants and flowerbeds around it. When the weather is nice, the church uses this area for different activities.
The Church Tower
The church tower stands by itself, separate from the rest of the church. It rises 166 feet straight up from the terrace level. The bottom of the tower is about 17 by 23 feet.
The tower has a simple, geometric shape with plain brick walls. Near the top, the brickwork changes to a pattern with holes. This part surrounds the area where the organ chimes ring out. The tower's simple design gives it a strong and dignified look. Its separate placement helps balance the whole church building.
The Main Church Area
The main church area is on the northeast side of the property. You reach it by climbing nine steps from the street. The entrance leads into the narthex, which is like a lobby. To the right is a coatroom, and to the left are stairs to the gallery (an upper seating area).
Three doors connect the narthex to the church's main seating area, called the nave. One door leads to the middle aisle, another to a side aisle, and the last to a low passage that connects to the Bible school.
Unique Interior Design
The main church area was designed to feel calm and spacious. It has a unique design that is not perfectly symmetrical. Saarinen believed that forced symmetry could make a room feel artificial. Instead, he focused on creating balance between different parts of the room.
For example, the cross at the end of the chancel (the area near the altar) is not in the exact center. But the communion table, which is very important for services, is placed right in the middle of the church. This shows how symmetry was used to highlight the spiritual meaning of the service, rather than just for looks. The middle aisle of the nave and the pulpit (where the preacher stands) are also slightly off-center.
Unlike many old churches, the First Christian Church does not have stained glass windows. Instead, Saarinen designed windows with the same pattern as the perforated part of the tower. This helps make the building feel unified. The way natural light enters the room was also carefully planned to add to the peaceful feeling. Sunlight from the tall windows lights up the nave and chancel during morning services, making the experience even more spiritual.
The church is 144 feet long and 46 feet wide. It can seat 580 people. With an extra gallery at the back that holds 180 people and a choir of 40, the church can hold a total of 800 people.
The Chapel
The chapel, like the main church, also has Saarinen's unique asymmetrical design. Instead of a central aisle, it has a wide aisle on the west side and a narrow one on the east. Tall windows let in plenty of light, just like in the main church.
The Baptistry
The Baptistry is located at the back of the chancel, hidden from the audience by swinging doors. It is lit by natural daylight coming from the windows in the main church area. The light shines down on those being baptized. Using natural light for this ceremony symbolizes the idea of natural cycles like death, burial, and resurrection. Dressing rooms, showers, and restrooms for men and women are located on the second floor above the baptistry.
The Church Organ
The church organ was a very advanced model for its time, made by the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company. It has 4 manuals (keyboards) and pedals, 72 different sounds (called speaking stops), 4695 pipes, and many other parts. The pipes range in size from 32 feet long to less than an inch! The organ is housed in a special room to the left of the chancel.
The organ was specially made to fit the church's needs. It is based on an 18th-century organ, known for its rich and clear sound. But it also has modern parts that make it easier to play. This means the organ can play music from all different time periods.
The Tapestry
A large tapestry decorates the church. It is 35 feet long and 11 ½ feet wide. Saarinen designed it, and skilled Scandinavian weavers, led by his wife Loja Saarinen, created it. Woven with wool and flax, it shows a picture of the Sermon on the Mount with animals and people listening. At the time, it was the largest tapestry in the entire country!
Images for kids
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Streetside view of the church
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The interior of the church's chapel
See also
In Spanish: Primera Iglesia Cristiana (Columbus) para niños
