Columbus in Bartholomew County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

First Christian Church

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 15, 2024

1. First Christian Church Marker

Inscription.
has been designated a
National Historic Landmark
This building is an important work associated with Modernism in architecture and possesses national significance in commemorating the history of the United States of America.

2001
National Park Service
United States Department of the Interior

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1942.

Location. 39° 12.202′ N, 85° 55.134′ W. Marker is in Columbus, Indiana, in Bartholomew County. It is at the intersection of 5th Street and Lafayette Avenue, on the left when traveling west on 5th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 531 5th St, Columbus IN 47201, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also

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the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Bartholomew County Civil War Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Columbus City Hall (about 300 feet away); Our Pioneer Heritage / Bartholomew County Historical Society / McEwen-Samuels-Marr House (about 700 feet away); Bartholomew County Courthouse (approx. 0.2 miles away); Veterans of All Wars (approx. ¼ mile away); Bartholomew County Revolutionary War Honor Roll (approx. ¼ mile away); Bartholomew County Veterans Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Bartholomew County Vietnam War Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbus.

Regarding First Christian Church. Excerpts from the National Historic Landmark nomination:

The congregation of the church was organized in 1855 as the Tabernacle Church of Christ. A brick, Gothic Revival style building was constructed in 1878 on Lafayette Avenue, on part of the site now occupied by Cleo Rogers Memorial Library. This structure housed the church for the next 64 years. By the late 1930s, the congregation had identified a
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 15, 2024

2. First Christian Church Marker
Marker is on the East Wing of the complex, which contains the sanctuary.
need for a new, larger church building. In 1937, William G. Irwin and his sister, Linnie I. Sweeney, purchased the block bounded by Franklin, Fifth, Lafayette, and Fourth Streets, and donated it for the new church.

A church member who was familiar with Cranbrook Academy of Art suggested Eliel Saarinen, the architect who served as its director. Mrs. Hugh Miller, a member of the building committee, had read a book that characterized Saarinen as Finland’s greatest architect, and decided to pursue this recommendation.

After making an appointment, Mrs. Miller traveled with her brother to Michigan to meet with Saarinen. Initially, the architect said he was not interested in designing a religious building, that American churches were too theatrical. Mrs. Miller replied that the congregation did not want that kind of church. “Our town is small and there are all sorts and conditions of men. While we should like the church to be beautiful, we do not want the first reaction to be, how mueh did the church cost? We want the poorest women in town to feel at home there.”

Also see . . .
1. First Christian Church (PDF). National Historic
Balthazar Korab; via Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division (Public Domain), circa 1942

3. First Christian Church complex
The design has several major features:
• The East Wing (left in photo) contains the sanctuary, a chapel, an auditorium, a kitchen and offices.
• The West Wing, which contains classrooms as part of the church's Bible school.
• A connecting bridge between the wings, also containing classroom space.
• A sunken terrace set 8 feet below street level between the wings. It originally had a pool that was later drained and filled. The area now is used for outdoor gatherings and class activities.
• The campanile, or free-standing bell tower (right in photo), which stands 166 feet tall.
Landmark nomination for the church. (Prepared by Laura Thayer, Louis Joyner and Malcolm Cairns, Storrow Kinsella Partnership Inc.; via National Archives) (Submitted on July 13, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. First Christian Church (Columbus, Indiana). Wikipedia entry on the architecturally noteworthy church campus. (Submitted on July 13, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

3. First Christian Church by Eliel Saarinen. Overview of the church and its design, with photographs. (Columbus Area Visitor Center) (Submitted on July 13, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Carol M. Highsmith via Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division (Public Domain), November 2011

4. First Christian Church complex
View of the East Wing and bell tower from the sunken terrace.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 13, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 13, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 150 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 13, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.