Saint John's Lutheran Church (Adrian, Michigan) facts for kids
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St. John's Lutheran Church
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 121 South Locust Street Adrian, Michigan |
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| Built | 1861 |
| Architect | Matthes, Kaumeier, Steffan |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000544 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 27, 1984 |
Saint John's Lutheran Church is an old and important church building in Adrian, Michigan. You can find it at 121 South Locust Street. This church was recognized as a special Michigan Historic Site in 1981. Later, in 1984, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The original church group, called the Lutheran congregation, moved to a new building in 2007. Today, the old church building is used by the Reformed Baptist Church of Lenawee.
Contents
Church History
The story of this church group began a long time ago. On October 10, 1847, a pastor named Wilhelm Hattstaedt started the "German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Adrian, Michigan." Their first church building was finished in 1849. It was used by a small number of German Episcopalians.
The first full-time pastor, Reverend Phillip J. Trautmann, arrived in 1850. More and more German immigrants were moving to Adrian. Because of this, a new, bigger church was needed.
Building the Current Church
The church building you see today was built in 1861. It was designed in a style called Gothic Revival. The architects were C. F. Matthes, John C. Kaumeier, and Pastor Steffan. This building is special because it's one of the oldest Gothic Revival Lutheran churches still standing in Michigan.
The church was officially opened on June 29, 1862. At first, it was a simple rectangular building made of brick. In 1896, parts called transepts were added. These make the church look like a cross from above. The beautiful stained glass windows were put in during 1914.
A New Home for the Congregation
The original Lutheran church group continued to grow. On July 8, 2007, they moved to a new location. Their new church is about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north of the old one.
The old church building was then sold. The Reformed Baptist Church of Lenawee bought it. They started using the building in late 2007 and still use it today.
Church Design and Features
Saint John's Lutheran Church is a red brick building. It is built in the Gothic Revival style. The church has a shape like a cross, which is called a cruciform plan. It sits on a strong sandstone foundation.
The roof is gently sloped. A tower sticks out a little from the front of the church. The main entrance is at the bottom of this tower. You enter through double doors inside a curved archway. The top of the tower has an eight-sided bell tower, called an octagonal belfry.
The corners of the church have angled supports called buttresses. These supports are topped with metal decorations called pinnacles. The side walls of the church are divided into sections by vertical piers.
Inside the Church
When you go inside, you first enter a small room called a vestibule. This room is at the base of the tower. From here, stairs lead up to a balcony. Other stairs go down to a full basement.
The main part of the church, called the auditorium, opens from the vestibule. This area also has the cruciform, or cross, shape. The walls are made of plaster. The lower part of the walls has a covering called wainscoting. This is made of wide, dark-stained pine boards. The plaster ceiling has decorative designs. The church pews, where people sit, face the altar. The altar is located in the apse, which is a curved or angled part at the end of the church.
