Franklin Street Presbyterian Church and Parsonage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Franklin Street Presbyterian Church and Parsonage
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Franklin Street Presbyterian Church, March 2012
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 Location in Baltimore
Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | 100 W. Franklin St. (church), 504 Cathedral St. (parsonage), Baltimore, Maryland |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1847 |
| Architect | Long, Robert Cary, Jr. (church); Col. R. Snowden Andrews (parsonage) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival, Tudor Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 71001036 |
| Added to NRHP | November 5, 1971 |
The Franklin Street Presbyterian Church and Parsonage is a historic Presbyterian church in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. It is located at 100 West Franklin Street, right on the corner with Cathedral Street. The church is a rectangular building built in the Tudor Gothic style. It was first opened in 1847, with more parts added in 1865.
The front of the church has two tall, octagonal towers, each about 60 feet high. These towers have special openings for bells and beautiful stained glass windows shaped like Gothic arches. The parsonage, which is the minister's home, is at the north end of the church. It was built in 1857 and matches the church's style with brick walls, heavy window frames, and battlements on the roof.
Contents
History of the Church
Why a New Church Was Built
The Franklin Street Presbyterian Church was started in 1844. A group of men from the First Presbyterian Church felt that a new church was needed. This was because the northern part of Baltimore was growing very fast. This area used to be a country estate called "Howard's Woods." It was owned by Col. John Eager Howard, a hero from the American Revolutionary War. The famous Washington Monument was built just two blocks from where the new church would stand.
Important Neighbors and Changes
The church is on "Cathedral Hill," a historic area in Baltimore. It is directly across the street from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This building, finished in 1821, was the very first Catholic cathedral built in America. Later, in the 1880s, a famous library called the Enoch Pratt Free Library was built nearby. Today, a newer library building stands directly across Franklin Street from the church.
In 1973, the Franklin Street Church joined with the First Presbyterian Church again. They formed a new group called The First and Franklin Street Presbyterian Church. For a while, the Franklin Street building was still used by this new group. Later, it was sold and is now home to the "New Unity Church Ministries."
Nearby Landmarks and Events
Across Cathedral Street from the church, there was once a grand home built in the 1820s. It was designed by Robert Mills, who also designed the Washington Monument. This house later became the Maryland Club, a private club for gentlemen. During the American Civil War in 1861, there was a lot of tension in Baltimore. After some conflicts, Union Army General Benjamin F. Butler took control of the city. His troops set up cannons on Federal Hill overlooking the city. The Maryland Club later moved, and the old mansion was replaced by a YMCA building. Today, that building is a hotel called the Hotel Indigo.
A famous Presbyterian leader, John Gresham Machen, attended the Franklin Street Church when he was a child. He later founded Westminster Theological Seminary.
National Recognition
The Franklin Street Presbyterian Church and its parsonage were recognized as important historical sites. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 5, 1971. They are also part of the Cathedral Hill Historic District and the Baltimore National Heritage Area. The church is located in the Mount Vernon-Belvedere neighborhood.
See also
- First Presbyterian Church and Manse (Baltimore, Maryland), the reunited sister congregation, is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places
