The Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church is a church located at 4461 Twenty-Eighth Street in Detroit, Michigan. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1980[2] and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.[1] The building now houses the Motor City Missionary Baptist Church.
Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church | |
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 Interactive map | |
| Location | 4461 28th St., Detroit, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°20′16″N 83°6′36″W / 42.33778°N 83.11000°W |
| Built | 1891 |
| Architect | Spier & Rohns |
| Architectural style | Carpenter Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002900[1] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | April 22, 1982 |
| Designated MSHS | October 2, 1980[2] |
History
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In the late 1800s, German-speaking immigrants began moving into southwest Detroit.[3] The Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church on Military Street was established in 1882 to service this influx of people.[3] The new congregation quickly swelled, and in 1890, the elders of Zion started a daughter congregation, commissioning the architectural firm of Spier & Rohns to design a wooden structure costing no more than $2000 to build.[3] This building is the only known example of a wooden church designed by the firm.[4]
The church was completed in 1891; a wooden parsonage was added the next year and a brick school was built in 1923.[4] The latter two building are included in the city historical listing, while on the church is on the National and state listing.[4]
The Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church was built in 1891; the congregation used the building until 1976, when they went defunct. The building was purchased by the Motor City Missionary Baptist Church in 1978.[2] The Motor City Baptist Church congregation was organized in 1967 by Rev. John W. Haynes and his wife Inez.[4]
Description
editThe Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church is a wooden, Carpenter Gothic chapel.[2] It is frame construction with gables at the ends, a central tower, and vestibule in front. The original clapboard siding still clads the building,[2] although white paint has replaced the original cream-and-gold with red-and-blue accent[3] color scheme. Each side has five tall lancet-arched, stained-glass windows, and the eaves are trimmed with hollow curved brackets and a paneled frieze.[2][3]
The interior is unusually well-preserved.[2] The interior walls feature vertical board wainscoting, with the area above covered in cream painted canvas.[4] The church organ is located on a rear balcony.[4]
The altar from Gethsemane is now used by Christ our Savior Lutheran Church in Livonia, Michigan.
References
edit- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church Archived 2011-06-06 at the Wayback Machine from the state of Michigan
- ^ a b c d e Motor City Missionary Baptist Church/ Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church from Detroit1701.org
- ^ a b c d e f Motor City Missionary Baptist Church Historic District Archived 2007-10-11 at the Wayback Machine from the city of Detroit