Saint Andrew's Memorial Episcopal Church

Saint Andrew's Memorial Episcopal Church
Location 5105 Anthony Wayne Drive
Detroit, Michigan
Coordinates 42°21′20″N 83°4′24″W / 42.35556°N 83.07333°W / 42.35556; -83.07333Coordinates: 42°21′20″N 83°4′24″W / 42.35556°N 83.07333°W / 42.35556; -83.07333
Built 1894
Architect Cram, Wentworth & Goodhue
Architectural style Late Gothic Revival, Other
MPS University-Cultural Center Phase II MRA
NRHP Reference # 86001003[1]
Added to NRHP May 15, 1986

Saint Andrew's Memorial Episcopal Church is a church located at 5105 Anthony Wayne Drive in Detroit, Michigan. As of 2008, it is used by Wayne State University and referred to as St. Andrew's Hall; street layout changes have re-indexed the address to 918 Ludington Mall. The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.[1]

History

Statues in front of St. Andrews, sculpted by Julius Theodore Melchers

St. Andrew's parish, founded in 1885,[2] was one of the earliest religious institutions established in what is now the University-Cultural Center section of Detroit.[3] By January 1886, the parish had constructed a church at the corner of fourth and Putnam. In the early 1890s, plans for the present church were drawn up in by the Boston-based architectural firm of Cram, Wentworth & Goodhue.[3] There was some delay in construction, but the church was completed in 1902.[3]

In 1906, the church burned due to an electrical fire; it was repaired six years later,[2] although the reconstruction did not restore the original design and has been criticized as architecturally disfiguring.[4] It served the Episcopalian parish for a number of years until, after World War II, the surrounding population began an exodus to the suburbs. In 1961, the diocese leased the building to Wayne State University for 99 years.[2] The University uses it as a student chapel and a concert hall.[2]

Description

St. Andrew's displays the straight, vertical and horizontal lines characteristic of Ralph Adams Cram's work.[3] The exterior is constructed of Bedford limestone, with Berea sandstone trimmings and minimal decorative stonework.[3] Rows of massive columns grace the nave, and an enormous window is inset behind the altar.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 National Park Service (2008-04-15). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 St. Andrew’s Memorial Episcopal Church (St. Andrew’s Hall) from Detroit1701.org
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Saint Andrew's Memorial Episcopal Church from the state of Michigan
  4. ↑ Eric J. Hill, John Gallagher, American Institute of Architects Detroit Chapter, AIA Detroit: The American Institute of Architects Guide to Detroit Architecture, Wayne State University Press, 2002, ISBN 0-8143-3120-3
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/26/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.