Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida de Ponce facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church
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First United Methodist Church in Ponce, Puerto Rico
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 Location in Puerto Rico
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| Location | Calle Villa 135, Ponce, Puerto Rico |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1907 |
| Architect | Antonin Nechodoma |
| Architectural style | Synthesis of Neo-Gothic, Spanish Revival, Spanish Baroque, and Byzantine elements. |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001822 |
| Added to NRHP | 29 October 1987 |
The First United Methodist Church of Ponce is a very old and important church in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It was built in 1907 by a famous architect named Antonin Nechodoma. This church is so special that it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1987. You can find it on Villa Street in the city's historic area.
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A Look Back: How the Church Started
For a long time, when Spain ruled Puerto Rico (from 1508 to 1898), people were only allowed to worship in Catholic churches. But in 1898, the United States took over, and things changed. People gained more freedom of worship, and other types of churches, like Protestant ones, started to be built.
This church, now called Primera Iglesia Metodista La Resurrección, was built in 1907. The land it stands on used to belong to a well-known family in Ponce, the Vendrell Toros. For a while in 1962, the church building was even the first home for the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico at Ponce! Today, the church still holds regular services. You can visit it for free from Tuesday to Friday mornings. If you want to visit on a Saturday, just make arrangements beforehand.
What the Church Looks Like
The First United Methodist Church of Ponce is a beautiful example of early 1900s architecture. It mixes several styles, like Neo-Gothic, Spanish Revival, Spanish Baroque, and Byzantine elements. It's made entirely of strong, reinforced concrete. The roofs are gabled (sloped) and covered with wood and metal sheets.
The church has a main section that runs parallel to the street. A large, central cross-shaped section faces Calle Villa. This front part has a special design called a Spanish-baroque style rope pediment. On each side of this central section, there are two square towers. The one on the west is shorter, like a small turret, and the one on the east is taller, holding the church bell.
The main front section has three parts. The wide middle part has a big, four-pointed gothic arch window made of stained-glass. On each side, there are two smaller, narrower stained-glass windows. Above the central window, there's a round window called an oculus within a square shape.
The Bell Tower
The taller tower on the east side has two levels at its base. Above that, it gets narrower in steps and is topped with an onion-shaped cupola. At the ground level, there's an entrance area called a vestibule with an open archway. On the second level, inside the tower's base, you'll see four narrow, modern-looking stained-glass windows. Higher up, the church bell is hidden behind narrow arches supported by Corinthian columns.
The Smaller Tower and Walls
The smaller tower on the west side is also made of concrete and ends in a rope pediment, a bit lower than the bell tower. It also has an entrance vestibule like the other tower. Above it, there's a circular opening with an oculus inside. The main part of the church extends a little beyond these towers. All the main walls are supported by low buttresses, which are like strong supports. A decorative concrete and wrought-iron gate surrounds the church property. It has square pillars every 20 feet, with a low concrete base and iron railings on top.
Why This Church Is Important
The First United Methodist Church of Ponce is a great example of Antonin Nechodoma's church designs. This architect from the Czech Republic was one of the first non-Hispanic designers to work in Puerto Rico. He even worked with famous architects like Frank Lloyd Wright! Nechodoma created a special "Puerto Rican Bungalow style" for homes, which became very popular. He designed at least three Protestant churches and many beautiful homes. Sadly, many of his buildings have been torn down, but the ones that remain are now considered important landmarks.
Historians believe this Methodist Church was the very first building Nechodoma designed in Puerto Rico, as its original plans are from 1907.
Building with New Materials
The materials used to build this church are also important. Reinforced concrete was the main material, and it was rarely used in Puerto Rico at that time. Other concrete buildings from that period often had very thick walls and used too much iron beams because builders didn't fully understand the new material. But Nechodoma used concrete in a smart and even artistic way, showing he knew a lot about modern building techniques. The church looks like it's made of stone, not concrete!
Religious Freedom in Puerto Rico
This church is also important for Puerto Rico's religious history. It was one of the first non-Catholic churches built after the United States took over in 1898. Before that, the only non-Catholic church allowed by Spanish rulers was the Anglican church, used by British residents. The Methodist Church shows the new freedom of worship that came with the United States' presence on the island. Experts even say it's the most important non-Catholic building in Ponce.
See also
- McCabe Memorial Church: another important church in Ponce, Puerto Rico
- National Register of Historic Places listings in southern Puerto Rico
