St. John's Presbyterian Church (Berkeley, California) facts for kids
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St. John's Presbyterian Church
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St. John's Presbyterian Church building in 2009
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 Location in Oakland, California
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2640 College Ave., Berkeley, California |
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| Area | 0.6 acres (0.24 ha) |
| Built | 1910 |
| Architect | Julia Morgan |
| Architectural style | American Craftsman |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000507 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 7, 1974 |
The Julia Morgan Theater is a special historic building in Berkeley, California. It was once a church called St. John's Presbyterian Church. A famous architect named Julia Morgan designed this beautiful wooden building.
The building is located at 2640 College Avenue. It is built in the American Craftsman style. This style often uses natural materials. The outside of the building has a unique wood-shingle finish. People call this style "Berkeley Brown Shingle."
In 1974, the church congregation moved to a new building. The old church building was then sold. Today, it is home to the Berkeley Playhouse. This building is very important to the city. It is number 8 on Berkeley's list of historic landmarks. In 1975, it was also added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as a nationally important historic site.
The Church's Story
The St. John's Presbyterian Church started in 1907. Many people moved to Berkeley after the big 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The church was formed to help these new residents. The church building was finished in 1910.
The church was named after St. John's Presbyterian Church in San Francisco. Many of the new church members had attended that church. Dr. George Granville Eldridge, who was a pastor in San Francisco, became the first pastor of the Berkeley church.
Building's Design
Julia Morgan was the architect for this church. She worked with her assistant, Walter Steilberg. They chose a design with wide, sloping roofs called gables. The outside walls were covered with stained wood shingles.
Inside, the walls are made of redwood panels. You can see the wooden beams and supports. This design shows off the natural wood. Most of the light comes from special windows high up, called clerestory windows. These windows have smoked glass.
Julia Morgan thought this building was her best work in the Craftsman style. The design makes the space feel warm and peaceful. The simple wood reminds people of nature's beauty.
From Church to Theater
In 1974 and 1975, the church moved to a new building. The future of Julia Morgan's old building was not clear. Many people wanted to save it from being torn down. This desire led to the creation of the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association in 1974. This group helps protect historic buildings.
People thought the building would be great for arts. For a short time, it was called the Center for World Music. Then, in 1980, the Julia Morgan Center for the Arts took over the building. It hosted many different arts groups. These included the Berkeley Opera and the Berkeley Ballet Theater. It also had many plays and art classes.
In 2009, the Julia Morgan Center joined with the Berkeley Playhouse. The Berkeley Playhouse is a theater company. It was started in 2007 by Elizabeth McKoy. Today, the Playhouse puts on several plays and musicals each year. They also offer acting classes for all ages. The building is now widely known as the Julia Morgan Theatre.
See also
- List of Berkeley landmarks
- List of works by Julia Morgan
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Alameda County, California
