Saline First Presbyterian Church facts for kids
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Saline First Presbyterian Church
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 143 E. Michigan Ave., Saline, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1898 |
| Built by | Conrad Schaffer & Sons |
| Architect | Spier & Rohns |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| MPS | Saline MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 85002960 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 10, 1985 |
Saline First Presbyterian Church is an old and important church building in Saline, Michigan. You can find it at 143 East Michigan Avenue. This church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. It was also named a Michigan State Historic Site in 1995, which means it's a special place in Michigan's history.
History of the Church
The story of this church began in 1831. Twelve families who followed the Presbyterian faith moved from Newark, New York. They traveled west to the area near what is now Saline, Michigan. This was soon after the Erie Canal opened, making travel easier.
When they arrived, these families immediately started holding church services. For about ten years, they met in homes, schools, or other public places. Finally, in 1842, the church members built their first church. It was a wooden building, and it stood exactly where the current church is today.
This first church served the community for many years. But by 1898, the congregation decided they needed a new, bigger building. They hired two architects from Detroit, Frederick H. Spier and William C. Rohns. A local company, Conrad Schaffer and Son, was chosen to build the new church. The total cost for the building and its inside decorations was about $5,981.
Over the years, the church has been updated. In 1954, new porches and steps were added. The stones used for these additions came from the same place as the original stones. In the mid-1970s, the church building was greatly improved, both inside and out. The main worship area, called the sanctuary, was also restored in 1998. People still use it for services today.
What the Church Looks Like
The Saline Presbyterian Church is made of brick. It is built in a style called Romanesque Revival. This style often uses round arches and strong, heavy stone foundations. The church has a unique, uneven shape.
It has a gable roof, which means the roof slopes down on two sides, forming a triangle at the ends. A large, square tower stands at one corner, topped with pointy spires. There's also a smaller, round tower at another corner of the building. On the south and east sides of the church, you can see beautiful, large stained glass windows.
