Built 1863 Designated MSHS November 6, 1970 Phone +1 313-259-6688 Architect Gordon W. Lloyd | NRHP Reference # 71000423 Opened 1863 Added to NRHP 11 March 1971 | |
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Location 960 East Jefferson Avenue
Detroit, Michigan Address 960 E Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI 48207, USA Architectural styles Gothic Revival architecture, Gothic architecture Similar North Woodward Congreg, St Joseph's Episcopal, Highland Park Presbyter, Central Woodward Christian, Trinity United Methodist | ||
Christ church detroit
Christ Church Detroit is an Episcopal church located at 960 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It is also known as Old Christ Church, Detroit. It is the oldest Protestant church in Michigan still located on its original site. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1970 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
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Christ church detroit
History
Brothers Robert (Jr.) and William Stead ran a wholesale grocery business at the present site of Christ Church until the year 1844. Christ Church Detroit was founded by a group of Episcopalians in 1845, who decided that St. Paul's Church (now St. Paul's Cathedral) was too crowded. The founders built a small wooden church, designed by Lieutenant Montgomery C. Meigs, as its first place of worship. Fifteen years later, plans were laid for a new building on the same site. In 1860, a chapel was constructed near the original structure for use while a larger church was constructed. The present church, designed by Gordon W. Lloyd, was completed in 1863.
Construction
The church is built in an American Gothic style, using limestone and sandstone; a massive belfry with a squared-off Germanic roof dominates the front facade. The interior boasts trancepts with galleries and hammerbeam trusses supporting the roof. All interior woodwork, save the roof, is made from local butternut. There are two Tiffany windows in the church, with more windows designed by other famous glass companies such as Franz Meyer and Company and J. Wippell and Co..
Current use
The Christ Church building has been continuously by an Episcopalian congregation since its construction. As of 2009, the Rector was the Rev. John Talk. The congregation describes themselves as "a contemporary, well-educated, multi-racial, multi-ethnic congregation carrying out Christ’s mission in the world around us, strengthened, nurtured, and guided by the presence of the Holy Spirit." The next-door Sibley House serves as offices.