Government Street Presbyterian Church facts for kids
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Government Street Presbyterian Church
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Government Street Presbyterian Church in 2007.
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 Location in Mobile, Alabama
Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Location | 300 Government Street Mobile, Alabama, USA |
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| Built | 1836-37 |
| Architect | James Gallier, James Dakin, and Charles Dakin |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 92001885 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 5, 1992 |
| Designated NHL | October 5, 1992 |
The Government Street Presbyterian Church in Mobile, Alabama is a very old and special building. It's one of the best examples of Greek Revival architecture in the United States. This style looks a lot like ancient Greek temples.
The church was designed by three talented architects: James Gallier Sr., James H. Dakin, and Charles Dakin. They also designed Barton Academy, another famous building nearby. Because of its unique design and history, the church was named a National Historic Landmark in 1992.
Contents
Church History
The Government Street Presbyterian Church group started in 1831. They first met in a simple wooden building. In 1835, they bought land at Government and Jackson Street for $10,000. This was a lot of money back then!
A rich church member named Henry Hitchcock helped a lot. He put an ad in the newspaper in December 1835. He was looking for builders for a new church. The plans for the new building were already made by Gallier and Dakin. Hitchcock helped pay for much of the construction.
Building the Church
Work on the new brick church began on February 13, 1836. The brick walls were finished by March 1837. One of the architects, Charles Dakin, even got married in the new church on March 22, 1837. By June, people could rent pews (church benches).
The whole building cost $60,000. About $40,000 of that went to the main builder, Thomas James.
In 1852, lightning struck the church's tall steeple. It was damaged so badly that it had to be removed. The church members thought about rebuilding it. The women of the church even started a "steeple society" to raise money. But in the end, they decided not to replace it.
Changes Over Time
Over the years, the church had some updates.
- In 1869, a new cypress wood floor was put in the basement.
- In 1893, the pulpit (where the preacher stands) was changed. The doors on the pews were also removed.
- In 1898, electric lights were added. Before that, they used gas lamps.
In 1902, the church decided to add more space for Sunday School. Architects F. Lockwood and Walter Seymour designed an addition in 1903. This new part was finished in 1905. It crossed the back of the church, making it look like a "T" shape. It cost about $12,000 and matched the old building perfectly. At this time, the clear glass windows in the main church were replaced with colorful stained glass.
A big hurricane in 1916 caused about $2500 in damage. After this, they decided to make the back of the church even bigger. Architect C. L. Hutchinson added two more sections. This cost $20,000. In 1950, the main church area was updated. It got modern lighting and a glass entrance area. The inside was painted, and the pews were recovered in 1976.
Church Design
Even though we don't know exactly who designed every part, experts believe James Gallier and Charles Dakin designed the outside. The inside is thought to be designed by the Dakin brothers. The church's outside looks a lot like another church built in Brooklyn, New York, around the same time.
Outside Look
The church is made of brick, but it's covered in stucco. This makes it look like it's made of large, smooth stone blocks. The front of the church has a special entrance with two columns. This is one of the oldest examples of this style in America.
The sides of the church have many tall windows. These windows are separated by flat columns called pilasters. The building has one main floor above a raised basement. The foundation and steps are made of granite. This granite came all the way from New England in 1836! The front and back roofs used to have decorations that looked like small leaves. The front roof also had a tall, eight-sided steeple. But as you know, it was destroyed by lightning in 1852 and never rebuilt.
Inside Look
The inside of the church is special because it still looks mostly like it did when it was first built. There are three ways to enter the main church area from the front porch. The main doors open into a lobby. The side doors open into stairways that lead to the main church and an upper balcony.
The main church area has two walkways and still has its original pews. The U-shaped balcony is held up by fancy columns with carvings. The balcony railing has a cool pattern called a "Greek key" design with small flower shapes. Much of the inside design seems to come from a famous architecture book from that time. Behind the altar (the front of the church) is a screen with more columns. The ceiling has a diamond pattern.
Church Organ
In the year 2000, the church had a big makeover. They decided to replace their old organ from 1903. They chose a company from the Czech Republic called Rieger-Kloss. They wanted an organ that could lead singing and play all kinds of music.
The new organ is very large and powerful. It has 62 "ranks" (sets of pipes) and six main sections. It's controlled by a special keyboard with four manuals (keyboards for hands) and pedals (for feet). The organ was designed to fit perfectly with the church's beautiful architecture. It's located in the south balcony. The main part of the organ is in the middle, with some special pipes sticking out the top. The keyboard is on a platform that can be moved. In 2018, the organ's technology was updated. It can now also sound like a harpsichord or carillon (bell instrument). If you play the organ, you can contact the church to practice on it! You can find more information about the organ here.
The Church Today
Government Street Presbyterian Church is part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). It has more than 480 members. The church offers worship services, Christian education, music programs, and helps people in the city.
The church also hosts a weekly lunch and talk for the community. They have an annual series of special talks too. Church members help downtown Mobile in many ways. For example, their Coffee Club has served breakfast to people experiencing homelessness for 22 years. They also help with Meals on Wheels and other community programs. In the summer, the church runs a special camp to help the city at its Baytreat Lodge.
See also
