Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mount Pisgah Lutheran Church
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Former Mount Pisgah Lutheran Church, January 2010
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 Location in Indianapolis
Location in Indianapolis
Location in the United States
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| Location | 701 N. Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis, Indiana |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1875, 1885-86 |
| Architect | Cookingham, Peter P. |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival, Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000048 |
| Added to NRHP | November 28, 1978 |
The Mount Pisgah Lutheran Church, also called The Sanctuary on Penn, is a historic building in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. It was once the church for the city's first Lutheran group, which started in 1837. This building was their third place of worship. Today, it is known as The Sanctuary on Penn and is used for special events.
This red-brick building is special because it mixes two old building styles: Late Gothic Revival and Romanesque Revival. These styles were very popular for churches in the late 1800s. The church is shaped like an "L" and was built in two parts. The first part, a chapel, was built around 1874 to 1875 in the Late Gothic Revival style. The main church area, called the sanctuary, was finished in 1887 in the Romanesque Revival style. It has round-arched windows, a rose window (a round window with patterns), and brick supports called buttresses. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, meaning it's an important historical site.
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History of the Church Building
The first Lutheran group in Indianapolis was started by Pastor Abraham Reck in 1837. This group later became known by several names, including Mount Pisgah Evangelical Lutheran and First English Lutheran Church. Over time, they built three churches in downtown Indianapolis. Their first church was built in 1838, and their second in a different spot. Both of these first two churches are no longer standing. However, their third church building at 701 North Pennsylvania Street is still there today.
For their third church, the Lutheran group bought land in 1874. The building was constructed in two main parts. The chapel was built first, from 1874 to 1875. The larger main sanctuary was completed in 1887. Peter Cookingham was the architect for the chapel. It's not fully known who designed the main sanctuary. Cookingham might have drawn the plans, but he had left Indianapolis before the sanctuary was finished.
In 1970, the church members decided to sell the building and move. But in 1973, they changed their minds and stayed for several more years. The building was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Today, the building is owned by a private company. They call it The Sanctuary on Penn and use it for events like weddings.
What the Church Looks Like
The building was constructed in two sections. It is known for combining two popular building styles from the late 1800s. The first part is a small, red-brick chapel built from 1874 to 1875. This chapel is in the Late Gothic Revival style. The second part is the main sanctuary, which is in the Romanesque Revival style. Construction on the sanctuary began in 1885 and was finished in 1886. The two parts of the building are connected. The main sanctuary faces west on North Pennsylvania Street, and the chapel faces south on Walnut Street.
Not many changes have been made to the building since it was finished in 1886. A pipe organ was added in 1898. In 1915, the church's plain windows were replaced with beautiful stained glass. During this time, they also dug out space under the sanctuary to create classrooms and restrooms. An entrance to this lower level was also added.
Outside the Church
The chapel is made of red brick and has a stone foundation. It has brick buttresses (supports) on its corners. The chapel has a steep, pointed roof made of slate. It also has tall, narrow windows with two-story arches. The side facing Walnut Street has tall stained-glass windows. The chapel's entrance has double doors with stained-glass windows.
The main sanctuary is also made of red brick with a stone foundation. It features windows with round arches, a large stained-glass rose window, and brick buttresses with stone tops. The main building's slate roof was built with wooden beams. The front of the church has a large arched stained-glass window below a round stained-glass rose window. There are two double-door entrances on the front, each with stained glass above them. One entrance has a small porch with a pointed roof.
The sides of the sanctuary have four stained-glass windows with rounded arches. These windows are separated by brick buttresses. Near the front of the church, on the upper part of the north and south sides, there are three round-arched openings with wooden slats. These might have been planned for church bells that were never put in.
Inside the Church
The inside of the sanctuary is simple. It has a large stained-glass window on the west wall that shows Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd. A pipe organ was originally in the back of the church. It was moved to the front in 1898 and then moved again to the rear during a later renovation.
During the 1915 renovations, the church's plain windows were replaced with stained glass. Also, the second floor above the chapel was changed to create classrooms. The area under the sanctuary was dug out and a concrete floor was added to make more space for classrooms and restrooms. Later, a false ceiling was added in the sanctuary. In the 1970s, the basement was repainted, and the chapel was redecorated.
Church's Community Role and Current Use
When it was an active Lutheran church, Mount Pisgah helped start five other Lutheran groups in Indianapolis. It also played a role in developing the Lutheran church across Indiana. For example, a big Lutheran meeting was held at the church in 1920, and the first offices for the Indiana-Kentucky Synod (a church organization) were located there.
The First Lutheran Church also helped the community. After World War II, it supported Estonian immigrants coming to Indianapolis. For a time, it even offered church services in the Estonian language. A community group called the Indianapolis Near East Side Community Organization (NESCO) also started at the church building in 1970.
Today, the building is called The Sanctuary on Penn. It is a private business that hosts weddings and other special events.
