North Presbyterian Church (Cleveland, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
North Presbyterian Church
|
|
Front of the church
|
|
 Location in Cleveland
Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 4001 Superior Ave., Cleveland, Ohio |
|---|---|
| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1887 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival, Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001445 |
| Added to NRHP | October 29, 1974 |
The North Presbyterian Church is a very old and important Presbyterian church. You can find it on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio, in the United States. This church building was built in the 1880s. It is now known as a special historic site.
Contents
A Church Built for Learning
This church has always focused on Sunday school programs. Sunday school is a place where children learn about faith. The North Presbyterian Church actually started from a mission Sunday school. This school was set up in east Cleveland in 1859.
In 1867, the local presbytery (a group of churches) officially formed a church from this Sunday school. Soon after, this new church started two more Sunday schools in other places. When the current church building was designed, it was made especially for Sunday schools. It had many small classrooms built around the main worship area.
Unique Church Design
The church building you see today was built in the mid-1880s. Construction started in 1886 and finished the next year. It has a very interesting mix of styles. It combines Gothic Revival and Romanesque Revival designs. This mix makes it quite unique.
Key Features of the Building
The church has a central tower that sticks out a bit from the front. This tower has a steep, pointed roof. At the bottom of the tower is the main entrance. Above the entrance, there are small, tall windows. These windows are just below the roof, where a bell might be. A very large window fills most of the space between the entrance and these small windows.
On each side of the tower, the front of the church is divided into four sections. These sections are separated by strong supports called buttresses. These supports run from the ground all the way to the roof. They are topped with tall, pointed decorations called pinnacles. Each section has two small windows near the ground. Above them, there is a huge window, much like the one in the tower. This large window takes up most of the width and height of its section.
The main corner of the building, which faces an intersection on Superior Avenue, is rounded. The special design of the front of the church continues onto the side facing west.
A Recognized Historic Place
In late 1974, the North Presbyterian Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historic places in the United States. The church qualified for this list for two main reasons. First, its architecture is very special. Second, it played an important role in local history.
The church's strong focus on religious education was a big reason for this honor. This focus can be seen in both its history and its unique design. The overall look of the church was unusual for buildings from that time. Also, its floor plan, which focused on Sunday school space, was very distinctive. Together, these features made the church a one-of-a-kind example of late 19th-century churches in the area.
