North Christian Church facts for kids
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North Christian Church
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 Location in Bartholomew County, Indiana
Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 850 Tipton Ln., Columbus, Indiana |
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| Architect | Eero Saarinen |
| Architectural style | Modern |
| MPS | Modernism in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Design, and Art in Bartholomew County, 1942-1965 MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000705 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 16, 2000 |
| Designated NHL | May 16, 2000 |
The North Christian Church is a famous church building in Columbus, Indiana. It was started in 1955 and belongs to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) group. The church building was finished in 1964. It was designed by a well-known Finnish-American architect named Eero Saarinen. His father, Eliel Saarinen, also designed another church in Columbus called the First Christian Church.
The church building has a unique six-sided shape. It features a tall metal spire that reaches 192 feet (59 m) into the sky. Right below the spire, there is a round opening called an oculus. This opening lets natural light shine into the main part of the church.
The main worship area, called the sanctuary, is in the middle of the building. The Lord's Table, where Communion takes place, is at the very center of the sanctuary. Rows of seats, called pews, are arranged in a hexagon around the table. This design shows that worship is the most important part of the church's life. Downstairs, there are classrooms, an auditorium, a kitchen, and a space for activities.
Contents
How the Church Began
In 1955, 43 members from the First Christian Church decided to start a new church. This original church was designed by Eliel Saarinen, Eero's father. The new group joined the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
At first, they met and worshiped in each other's homes. In 1956, they bought 5+1⁄2 acres (2.2 ha) of land. They got help from a local leader named J. Irwin Miller. Miller wanted Eero Saarinen to design the new church. However, he felt it was important for the church members to choose their own architect.
Miller later shared how they picked Saarinen:
I was on the building committee. We interviewed about six well-known architects. They all came in with their slides [and talked about their work]. Eero just brought a notebook. He looked at us and said, "What do you want? What do you want it to be? Don't tell me what you want it to look like, but what you want it to be like." They decided to hire him as soon as he left
Understanding the Design
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Preliminary sketch.
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Final design.
Eero Saarinen believed that many modern churches had lost their grand, impressive feeling. He thought that adding Sunday schools, gyms, and kitchens often made the main church building seem less important. He wanted to design a church that felt grand like old cathedrals. But he also wanted it to use modern styles and meet the needs of the people.
His solution was to put the school, meeting rooms, auditorium, and kitchen in a hidden basement. This way, the only part of the church seen above ground was the sanctuary. The basement was also shaped like a hexagon, just like the sanctuary above it. This design made the church's main worship area stand out as the most important part.
Saarinen was inspired by the steep steps at ancient temples like Angkor Wat. He felt that visitors should have to work a little to reach the sacred space. He thought building a church all on one level made religion "too easy." So, he raised the sanctuary of the North Christian Church. People have to climb stairs to get inside. This also made the church stand out in its neighborhood.
Inside the Sanctuary
Entering the church was a special experience for Saarinen. He wanted the space to feel different, to help people feel more spiritual. The gray slate floors, dark mahogany seats, and soft natural light create a sense of wonder. The main light source in the sanctuary is the oculus. This is the round opening at the bottom of the spire, directly above the Communion table. This light draws attention to the center of the room, where the Communion service happens.
The room was designed for people to gather together in peace. The Communion table has twelve stands, representing the twelve disciples. It sits on a raised platform. The tallest stand at the end of the table represents Christ. It holds a silver cup and bread for the service. This table is the main focus of the sanctuary. It is very important to the Disciples of Christ service. The church members sit around it, facing each other as a community.
The pulpit (where sermons are given), the choir area, and a Holtkamp organ are across from the main entrance. This organ was the last one designed by Walter Holtkamp Sr.
The Church Spire
Saarinen designed the church's long, angled shape and the 192-foot (59 m) tall spire as one connected idea. He explained his vision:
On this site, with this kind of central plan, I think I would like to make the church really all one form: all the tower. There would be the gradual building up of the sheltering, hovering planes becoming the spire. The spire would not be put on a box or come up from the sides of the roof, as we did at Stephens College. The whole thing, all the planes, would grow up organically into the spire
From the outside, the spire looks like it is reaching up to God. Inside, it creates a tall, open space for the church members. The church was meant to help people feel connected to something beyond the everyday world. Instead of heavy, square shapes, Saarinen used sharp, angled forms that seem to float and point towards the sky. At the very top of the spire is a 5-foot (1.5 m) gold cross. This cross symbolizes Christ's sacrifice.
The Baptistery
The baptistery is a small, special room. It is decorated with a sunburst design, which represents the Holy Trinity. This room is separate from the main sanctuary. This separation was designed to make the baptism ceremony feel more important and dignified. It also reminds people of early Christian churches. In those times, only baptized people could attend Communion.
How it Influenced Others
The North Christian Church became one of the most copied buildings from the mid-1900s. While it didn't get much attention when Saarinen was alive, many copies of the building appeared across America in the years that followed. This was the last building Saarinen designed before he passed away. He believed it was one of his greatest achievements:
When I face St. Peter I am able to say that out of the buildings I did during my lifetime, one of the best was this little church, because it has in it a real spirit that speaks forth to all Christians as a witness to their faith
Recent Updates
Over time, the number of church members decreased. The costs to keep the building in good condition increased. This made it hard for the church to find enough money for maintenance. In April 2018, the Indiana Landmarks group added the church to its list of 10 Most Endangered landmarks in Indiana. This was done to raise awareness and find ways to save the building.
In 2019, Landmark Columbus received a special grant from the Getty Foundation. This grant helped them create a plan to care for the church long-term. They worked with several experts to make sure the church's history and design would be protected.
On July 16, 2022, the church held a "Celebration of Life" service for the building. The North Christian Church is now permanently closed. It no longer offers tours to visitors.
On April 15, 2024, the Bartholomew County Library Board voted to accept the church building. It was given to them as a gift by the former North Christian Church congregation.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia Cristiana del Norte para niños
