Hopewell Baptist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hopewell Baptist Church
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Hopewell Baptist Church in 2021
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 Location in Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5801 NW 178th St., Edmond, Oklahoma |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1950 |
| Architect | Bruce Goff |
| Architectural style | Organic |
| MPS | Bruce Goff Designed Resources in Oklahoma MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 02001018 |
| Added to NRHP | September 14, 2002 |
The Hopewell Baptist Church is a really unique building in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. People often call it the Teepee Church because of its cool shape! A famous architect named Bruce Goff designed it in a modernist style. This church is so special that it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2002. Experts said it was a great example of Bruce Goff's work when he was leading the School of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma.
Contents
A Church Shaped Like a Teepee
This church was designed to look like a teepee. The idea was to create something imaginative, even with a small budget. The builders used leftover pipes and corrugated aluminum from oil fields. Volunteers helped weld the pipes and build the church. They also used local materials, like rocks from quarries near Calumet, Oklahoma.
Unique Design Details
The very top of the church is about 80 feet high. It has an open metal belfry, but there's no bell inside. There are also 12 triangular windows at the peak. These windows were known to leak when it rained!
The roof shingles were originally the color of the red soil found in that area. Later, they were changed to gray shingles. The bottom part of the church was finished with native rock and sheet metal.
Inside, the main part of the church, called the nave, was set up in a circle. This meant everyone could see each other easily. Classrooms were located on the lower level of the building.
Strong Outside Supports
The outside of the church has 12 strong support beams. These beams are made from welded steel pipes that get thinner towards the top. They are painted a reddish-brown color and held together by a special ring. People nicknamed these 12 supports after the Twelve Apostles.
How the Church Was Built
Members of the church built the building themselves. They worked on it during evenings and weekends. Construction started in 1947 and finished in 1951. They used a lot of steel pipes, about 1,000 tons in total!
The entire building cost only $20,000 to build. The architect, Bruce Goff, even lowered his fee. He charged only $1,200 for designing the church and helping to supervise the construction.
How the Church Was Used
The building was used as a church until 1989. It had to close because of water leaks. Also, it was very expensive to heat and cool the building since it didn't have any insulation.
The church that owned the property was first called Hopewell Baptist Church. After that, it was known as the Church at Edmond. Later, a different church, which met in a separate building, was renamed God's Tabernacle of Praise.
Restoring the Teepee Church
In 1999, some harmful materials like asbestos were removed from the building. However, the church still had serious damage both inside and out.
A group called the Hopewell Heritage Foundation was started in 2005. Their goal was to raise $1.25 million to fix up the church. They also needed money to pay for its ongoing care. A company called Elliott and Associates Architects from Oklahoma is leading the restoration work.
The roof was replaced in late 2013 by Jenco Roofing Company. This was done to stop more damage from happening. As of 2015, the roof, windows, and doors had been repaired. However, more work was still needed inside the church to support the upstairs floor.
