Grand Avenue Congregational Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Grand Avenue Congregational Church
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Grand Avenue Congregational Church
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| Location | 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
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| Built | 1887-1888 |
| Architect | E. Townsend Mix |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000110 |
| Added to NRHP | January 16, 1986 |
The Grand Avenue Congregational Church is a beautiful old church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was built a long time ago, in 1888, and has a special design called Romanesque Revival. Because it's so important, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. This means it's a protected landmark!
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A Church with a Mission
The church community, called a congregation, started in 1847. They were known as Free Congregational. This group cared deeply about important issues of their time. They strongly supported the end of slavery. They also believed in equal opportunities for women, especially in education. Another cause they championed was the temperance movement, which encouraged people to avoid alcohol.
Moving to New Homes
The congregation first met in a rented building in downtown Milwaukee. Later, they moved to Spring Street in 1852. In 1881, they moved again to Grand Avenue. By 1887, they decided it was time to build a brand new church. They chose the spot where the church stands today on Wisconsin Avenue.
Designing a Grand Building
The congregation hired a very talented architect named E. Townsend Mix. He was known for designing many important buildings. Mix created a design for the church in the Romanesque Revival style. This style often uses round arches and strong, rough-cut stone.
Unique Architectural Features
The church building shows off its Romanesque Revival style with rough stone at the bottom. This makes the building look very strong and stable. It also has smooth brick and large glass windows. The church's floor plan is shaped like a cross. The roof has many different angles, making it look interesting. Unlike some Romanesque Revival churches, this one has a front that looks the same on both sides. It doesn't have one giant tower. Instead, a large, rounded window sits above the main door. A smaller tower rises from each side of the roof. Inside, the main room was huge and could seat 1200 people!
Building Expansions
The new church was officially opened in May 1888. Over the years, the building was made even bigger. The back of the church was expanded in 1907, 1930, and 1935. The 1930 expansion added a special area for the choir. This part was designed by another famous architectural firm, Van Ryn & DeGelleke.
A Place for Unity and Change
The Grand Avenue Congregational Church had a long history of bringing people together. This idea is called ecumenism. In 1902, the church hosted a special Thanksgiving service. Christians and Jewish people came together to celebrate. In 1945, they held a joint service with St. Mark's African Methodist Church. This showed their commitment to unity.
Martin Luther King Jr.'s Visit
A very important event happened in 1957. The famous civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr., visited the church. He spoke to a huge crowd about segregation. Segregation was when people were kept apart based on their race. Dr. King talked about how important peace and love are. He also spoke about finding fair solutions to racial inequality. His visit was a powerful moment for the community.
A New Chapter for the Building
In 1996, the church building was given to the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center. This organization now uses the historic building for events and activities. The church congregation itself officially ended the following year. The building continues to be a landmark in Milwaukee.
