Unitarian Universalist Church (Ann Arbor, Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Unitarian Universalist Church
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 100 N. State Street Ann Arbor, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1881–82 |
| Built by | Walker Bros. |
| Architect | Donaldson and Meier |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001513 |
| Added to NRHP | October 4, 1978 |
The Unitarian Universalist Church is a very old and important building. It is located at 100 N. State Street in Ann Arbor, Michigan. People also know it as Grace Bible Church or First Unitarian Church. This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it is a special place that should be protected because of its history.
Contents
History of the Church Building
Building a New Home
The First Unitarian Society of Ann Arbor started in 1865. At first, they met in what used to be the Methodist Church. In 1878, Dr. Jabez T. Sunderland became their new pastor. He worked for 20 years and one of his first big goals was to build a new church.
Dr. Sunderland helped raise $19,000 for the building. The church group hired a company called Donaldson and Meier from Detroit. They were architects who designed the building. Construction started in 1881. The Walker Brothers firm from Ann Arbor did the stonework. The church building was finished in 1882.
Changes Over Time
In 1920, a new part was added for students. The Unitarian group used the building until 1946. Then, they moved to a different location. The Grace Bible Church bought the building that same year.
Later, in 1971, the Grace Bible Church rented the building to the Bible Church of True Holiness. Grace Bible Church moved to South Maple Road in 1975. The building was sold again in 1985 to a company called D. B. Associates Ltd.
This company fixed up the building, which was getting old. They made it a home for an architecture company called Hobbs and Black, Associates, Inc. During the repairs, they found something amazing. An old Tiffany window from the 1890s had been covered up since the 1930s!
What Does the Church Look Like?
The Ann Arbor First Unitarian Church is a two-story building. It is shaped like a rectangle. It was built in a style called Richardsonian Romanesque. This style often uses strong, heavy stone.
The church is made of large, cut stones called ashlar. It also has stripes of darker stone for decoration. The roof has a cross-gabled shape. At the back of the building, there is a square tower. This tower has a pointed roof, which is called a hip roof.
