First Congregational Church (Richmond, Michigan) facts for kids
|
First Congregational Church (Richmond, Michigan)
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 69619 Parker, Richmond, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Built | 1887 |
| Built by | Charles W. McCauley |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000954 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | December 6, 1975 |
The First Congregational Church in Richmond, Michigan, is a very old and important building. It is now called the Richmond Center for the Performing Arts. You can find it at 69619 Parker. This building is the oldest public building in Richmond. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. This means it is a special place that is important to history. It was also named a Michigan State Historic Site in the same year.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
How the Church Began
In 1871, a group of people in Richmond decided to start the First Congregational Church. They built their first church building in 1872. Later, in 1887, they wanted a new, bigger church. They hired a local builder named Charles W. McCauley to construct it.
From Church to Theater
Many years later, in 1973, the First Congregational Church joined with another church nearby. This church was called St. Paul's Evangelical and Reformed Church. After they merged, the old church building was sold. It was bought by a group called the Richmond Community Theatre.
The theater group worked hard to fix up the building. They made the outside look new again. They also changed the inside to make it a perfect place for plays and performances.
Today's Use
As of 2011, the building is home to the Richmond Center for the Performing Arts. The Richmond Board of Education manages this center. It is a place where people can enjoy different kinds of shows and events.
What the Building Looks Like
Gothic Revival Style
Richmond's First Congregational Church is built in a style called Gothic Revival. This style was popular in the 1800s. The building is made of red brick. It sits on a strong foundation of fieldstone, which are natural stones found in fields.
Special Features
The front of the building is not perfectly even on both sides. This is called asymmetrical. On one side of the main entrance, there is a tall, square tower. This tower has a wooden belfry, which is where bells would usually be.
The outside walls have special supports called stepped buttresses. These help make the building strong. You can also see tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. These windows have beautiful stone patterns inside them, known as tracery. All these details make the building a great example of 19th-century Gothic Revival architecture. It is very well-preserved.
