First Lutheran Church (Dayton, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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First Lutheran Church
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Front of the church
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 138 W. 1st St., Dayton, Ohio |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1907 |
| Architect | Peters, Burns, and Pretzinger |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 83002011 |
| Added to NRHP | March 29, 1983 |
First Lutheran Church is a very old and important Lutheran church in downtown Dayton, Ohio, United States. It was built in the early 1900s for a large group of people who went to church there. The building looks like many grand, old churches from long ago. Because of its special design, it has been named a historic site.
Contents
A Look at the Church's History
First Lutheran Church started in the middle of 1839. At first, the church community met in a store. Then, they built their very first church building in what is now downtown Dayton. Since 1839, the church has had several different buildings. However, all of them have always been in the downtown area.
How the Church Grew and Changed
This church helped start several other Lutheran churches in the Dayton area. Its members helped create six new church communities over time. During the American Civil War, some disagreements caused a group of members to form their own separate church in 1864.
In the past, First Lutheran was a very big church. In 1948, about 2,500 people were part of its community. Over time, as more people moved out of the city to the suburbs, the church faced some challenges. Its membership became smaller, but it continues to be an important part of the community today.
The Beautiful Church Building
The first building for the church community started being built in 1841. This was two years after the church began. It took over a year for the first floor to be ready for worship. The second floor was added three years after that.
The church community later built other buildings downtown. The building you see today was finished in 1906.
Design and Features of the Current Church
The current church building is made in the Gothic Revival style. This means it looks like old European churches. It was designed by architects named Peters, Burns, and Pretzinger. The outside walls are made of stone that looks rough, called rusticated stone. This stone has many different colored lines, or veins, running through it.
The architects wanted the church to look like the most famous Lutheran churches in Europe. So, they added special stained glass windows. These windows show pictures of some of the Twelve Apostles and Four Evangelists. You can also see traditional details like label stops with carved faces, called figureheads. The ceiling is painted and shows the wooden parts that hold it up.
One of the most striking parts of the church is its tall central tower. It stands about 100 feet (30 m) high. The church also has tall, thin, pointed windows called ogive windows. This building is the only church in downtown Dayton that still stands in the Gothic Revival style.
Keeping History Alive
In early 1983, First Lutheran Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It earned this honor because of its important and historic architecture. This means it is a special building that should be protected.
First Lutheran is one of five churches in Dayton with this special recognition. The other four are all Catholic churches. They are located in different parts of the city. Only Sacred Heart is also located downtown, like First Lutheran.
