First Congregational Church (Long Beach, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids First Congregational Church |
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First Congregational Church, February 2008
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| 33°46′13″N 118°11′43″W / 33.77028°N 118.19528°W | |
| Location | 241 Cedar Ave., Long Beach, California |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | United Church of Christ |
| Churchmanship | Congregationalist |
| Website | www.firstchurchlb.org |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 1888 |
| Dedicated | December 1914 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | H. M. Patterson |
| Architectural type | Italian Romanesque Revival |
| Completed | 1914 |
| Construction cost | $210,000 |
The First Congregational Church is a historic church in downtown Long Beach, California. It belongs to the United Church of Christ group. The church building is made of red brick and was finished in 1914.
This beautiful building is designed in the Italian Romanesque Revival style. It has been named a Long Beach Historic Landmark. In 2012, it was also added to the National Register of Historic Places, which lists important historical sites across the country.
Contents
Building the Church
The First Congregational Church started in 1888. The church building you see today was finished in 1914. It cost about $210,000 to build, which was a lot of money back then!
Jotham Bixby Sr. helped a lot with the building costs. He was known as the "Father of Long Beach." He gave $25,000, which was the biggest donation.
Design and Style
The church was designed by an architect named H.M. Patterson from Los Angeles. He used the Romanesque style, which looks like old European churches. The building is made of red bricks laid in special patterns. It also has white terra cotta details.
The main room, called the auditorium, was very large. It could hold 1,500 people. The roof of this room was 55 feet high. People said it felt like walking into a grand cathedral in Europe.
The church also has amazing art-glass windows. These windows were considered some of the best in the western United States. There are three big rose windows above the balcony area. Below the balcony, there are six more picture windows. The middle window is called the "Light of the World."
Church History
The church building officially opened in December 1914. More than 2,000 people attended the dedication event. The Los Angeles Times newspaper called the church "magnificent." They also said its design and features were unmatched in Southern California. When it first opened, it was the largest church in the area.
In 1924, a new three-story education building was added. This building also had its own auditorium. By 1927, the church had grown very big. It had 1,700 members, making it the fifth largest Congregational church in the United States.
Earthquake Damage
The church was badly damaged in the 1933 Long Beach earthquake. It had to close for several months while repairs were made. Reverend Henry Kendall Booth was the pastor of the church during this time. He served from 1909 until he passed away in 1942.
The church building has even appeared in a movie! It was seen in the 2007 film License to Wed.
Helping the Community
The First Congregational Church is known for its open-minded approach to faith. It has a long history of helping people in the community. This includes programs to support those who are poor, homeless, or have disabilities.
In 2007, the church received a lot of attention. The senior pastor, Jerald Stinson, decided to let homeless people sleep on the church steps. The city wanted him to stop this, but Pastor Stinson refused. He said, "Allowing these people to sleep on our property is, for us, a religious act." This showed the church's strong commitment to helping those in need.
See also
- List of City of Long Beach Historic Landmarks
