Kirk in the Hills facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kirk in the Hills |
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| 42°34′53″N 83°17′40″W / 42.5812727°N 83.29436245°W | |
| Location | Bloomfield Hills, Michigan |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Presbyterian Church (USA) |
| Website | https://kirkinthehills.org/ |
| History | |
| Founded | 1951 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Gothic |
| Completed | November 23, 1958 |
Kirk in the Hills is a beautiful Presbyterian church. It is located in Bloomfield Township, Michigan. The church was finished in 1958.
About Kirk in the Hills
Kirk in the Hills sits on 40 acres of land next to Island Lake. It is built in the Gothic style. This means it has tall arches, pointed windows, and detailed stone work. It looks a lot like the famous Melrose Abbey in Scotland. That abbey was built way back in the 1200s!
The church is built on land that used to be the home of Colonel Edwin S. George. He loved the idea of having a church here. In 1947, he gave his home and land so the church could be built. He even started a special foundation for it in 1933. The first church services were held in his home's chapel in 1947. The first stone for the main church was laid in 1951, the same year Colonel George passed away. His remains are buried under the front part of the church.
The church was designed by the architectural firm of George D. Mason. They used early ideas from Wirt Rowland. Rowland died in 1946 while the designs were being made. Services were held in the church's basement starting in 1952. Construction continued until a big fire damaged most of the roof. The church held its first services in the main sanctuary on November 23, 1958. The word Kirk is a Scottish word that means Church.
Tower and Carillon
The church has a tall structure called the Tower of the Apostles. This tower holds the world's largest carillon based on the number of bells it has. A carillon is a musical instrument made of many bells that are played together. The bells were put in the tower in 1960.
The Roy A. Fruehauf family donated these bells. The five biggest bells are named after members of the Fruehauf family: Roy, Ruth, Royce, Randall, and Ruth Ann. Mr. Fruehauf also donated the organ to the church after the fire. He was very important in helping to build the church. The 77 bells range in size. The largest bell is 6 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 6 short tons. The smallest bell is 6 inches tall and weighs 14 pounds.
Church Sculpture and Art
The church has many beautiful sculptures. These were made by famous architectural sculptors like Lee Lawrie, Corrado Parducci, and John Angel. An Italian stone carver named Harry Liva also worked on the sculptures. They used Indiana Oolitic limestone for their art. Inside the church, you can also see ceramic tiles made by Pewabic Pottery. The gardens around the church have sculptures by Marshall Fredericks.
Sculpture Gallery
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The front of the church, called the South Façade
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A detailed sculpture on the front of the church
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Architect Wirt C. Rowland
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A gargoyle sculpture
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A sculpture of Christ
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A sculpture of St. Paul
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Edwin George with a model of the Kirk
