Woodward Avenue Presbyterian Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Woodward Avenue Presbyterian Church
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Church façade from Woodward
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| Location | 8501 Woodward Avenue Detroit, Michigan |
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| Built | 1911 |
| Architect | Sidney Badgley |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| MPS | Religious Structures of Woodward Ave. TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002916 |
| Added to NRHP | August 3, 1982 |
The Woodward Avenue Presbyterian Church is a beautiful old church building. It is located at 8501 Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. The church was built in 1911. It was designed in the Gothic Revival style. The architect was Sidney Badgley.
For some time, the building was used by another church called the Abyssinia Church of God in Christ. In 1982, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site.
Contents
History of the Church
By 1908, people who followed the Presbyterian faith in Detroit needed a new church. They wanted one in the "north" Woodward area. Meetings were held, and a new church group was officially started on March 17, 1908. The church began with 163 members.
Building the Church
Reverend Sherman L. Divine became the first minister. He had a big plan to build a large church. He imagined a building that would cost about $100,000. The church worked hard to get new members and raise money. Tracy and Katherine McGregor gave a piece of land on Woodward Avenue for the church.
The first stone for the church was laid on January 1, 1910. Construction began based on designs by Sidney Rose Badgley. The church was finished and officially opened on June 23, 1911.
Growth and Changes
By 1921, the church had grown a lot. It had more than 2,200 members. However, in the 1950s, many people started moving out of Detroit. They moved to the northern suburbs. Because of this, the Woodward Avenue Presbyterian Church began to struggle. By 1961, it had fewer than 1,000 members. By 1971, there were only 404 members left.
In 1981, the Woodward Avenue Presbyterian Church joined with another church called Covenant Church. Even together, they had fewer than 500 members. By 1991, only 210 members remained. In 1993, the church group decided to leave the Presbyterian church. It became the Abyssinia Interdenominational Church. Pastor Gary Douglas led this new church. The church closed in 2005 after Pastor Douglas passed away. The Woodward Avenue Presbyterian Church building was then left empty and started to fall apart.
Recent Efforts to Save the Church
Over the years, the church building was bought by different owners. But none of them had enough money to take care of such a large property. Later, an information technology company bought the building. They also bought a building next to it.
In 2018, the company's leader talked on TV about their plans. They wanted to fix up the church building for the community. By January 2019, the company had replaced the roof. They were also cleaning the inside and making the building strong again. However, in July 2019, the company faced problems. They were stopped from working with the city until 2026. As of 2020, there were no new updates on repairs for the church.
Church Architecture
The Woodward Avenue Presbyterian Church is built in the English Gothic style. This style often looks like old European cathedrals. The church is covered with rough rock. It has contrasting light-colored limestone for details. The building is 184 feet long and 104 feet wide.
The front of the church, facing Woodward Avenue, has a large entrance made of carved stone. Above the entrance is a beautiful stained glass window with detailed patterns. Two square towers stand on each side of the main entrance. Along the side of the church, there are parts that stick out with pointed roofs. These parts have tall, patterned windows.
At the back of the main church building, there is a two-story educational wing. This part was built at the same time as the church. A special dome, called a lantern dome, rises above the roof. It lets light into the main meeting area.
Gallery of Images
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This shows extra seating, separated from the main area by a sliding wall.
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