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 building in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was built way back in 1888. This church is famous for its unique style, called Romanesque Revival. Because it's so special, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. This means it's an important historical site worth protecting!
Contents
The Church's Early Days
The church started with a group of people who wanted to make a difference. In 1847, some members from other churches decided to form their own group. They called themselves Free Congregational. This group was very interested in important social issues of their time.
Standing Up for What's Right
The people in this early church group cared deeply about certain things:
- They strongly believed in ending slavery.
- They supported education for women.
- They were part of the temperance movement, which encouraged people to avoid alcohol.
The group first met in a rented building. Over the years, they moved a few times. They settled on Grand Avenue in 1881. But by 1887, they decided to build a brand new church at their current spot on Wisconsin Avenue.
Designing a Grand Building
To create their new church, the congregation hired a very talented architect named E. Townsend Mix. He was known for designing many important buildings. Mix chose the Romanesque Revival style for the church.
What is Romanesque Revival?
This style is inspired by old Roman buildings. It often features:
- Round arches over windows and doors.
- Strong, sturdy looks.
- A mix of different textures.
Mix's design for the Grand Avenue Church used rough, natural stone at the bottom. This made the building look very strong and stable. Higher up, he used smooth brick and shiny glass. The church's floor plan is shaped like a cross. The roof has many different angles, making it look interesting.
Unlike many Romanesque Revival churches, this one has a front that looks the same on both sides. Instead of one big tower, it has a large, round window above the main door. There's also a smaller tower on each side of the roof. Inside, the main room was huge and could fit 1200 people!
Building Expansions
The new church was officially opened in May 1888. Over the years, more parts were added to the back of the building. This happened in 1907, 1930, and 1935. The 1930 addition was a special choir loft, designed by architects Van Ryn & DeGelleke.
A Place for Everyone
The Grand Avenue Congregational Church had a long history of welcoming everyone. They believed in bringing different groups of people together. This idea is called ecumenism.
Important Events and Speakers
- 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 racial equality.
- A very famous person, Martin Luther King Jr., spoke at the church in 1957. The church was completely full! He talked about ending segregation (keeping people apart because of their race). He also spoke about the importance of peace, love, and finding fair solutions to racial problems.
The Church Today
In 1996, the church building was given to the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center. This center now uses the historic building for events and activities. The church congregation itself officially ended the following year. However, the building still stands as a reminder of its important history and the people who gathered there.
