Central Presbyterian Church (Saint Paul, Minnesota)

Central Presbyterian Church is a church in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. The congregation was founded in 1852 and built its first building in 1854, which was later enlarged during the 1870s. The rapidly growing congregation outgrew the building, so they built a new church building in 1889. The building, an example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[2]

Central Presbyterian Church
Central Presbyterian Church from the west
Central Presbyterian Church (Saint Paul, Minnesota) is located in Minnesota
Central Presbyterian Church (Saint Paul, Minnesota)
Central Presbyterian Church (Saint Paul, Minnesota) is located in the United States
Central Presbyterian Church (Saint Paul, Minnesota)
Location500 Cedar Street, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Coordinates44°56′59″N 93°5′46″W / 44.94972°N 93.09611°W / 44.94972; -93.09611
AreaLess than 1 acre
Built1889– (1900)(presumed date of finish of the edifice religious)
ArchitectWarren H. Hayes
Architectural styleRichardsonian Romanesque
NRHP reference No.83000926[1]
Added to NRHPFebruary 10, 1983

The arched entrances, a hallmark of the Richardsonian Romanesque style, feature a number of carved floral and geometric motifs.[2] The façade is coarsely carved Lake Superior brownstone with a massive 90-foot gable over the arches. The architect, Warren H. Hayes, laid out the seating in the Akron Plan. It features a raised semi-circular chancel, which places the speaker in the front of the congregation and at the center of the chancel. The pews are curved and laid out in a semi-circular pattern on a sloping floor. This design, similar to a theater's design, allows each person to see and hear the speaker.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. ^ a b Millett, Larry (2007). AIA Guide to the Twin Cities: The Essential Source on the Architecture of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Minnesota Historical Society Press. p. 320. ISBN 0-87351-540-4.
  3. ^ "Central Presbyterian Church - Our Architecture & Organ". Archived from the original on 2008-08-07. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
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