Terri Meyer Boake B.E.S. B.Arch. M.Arch.
Associate Professor School of Architecture University of Waterloo

Image Gallery:

First Christian Church
1942

Eliel Saarinen Architect

Columbus, Indiana

 

About the building:

First Christian Church was designed by Eliel Saarinen in 1942. It sits across the street from the Cleo Rogers Memorial Library by I.M. Pei. The view above is taken through the "Arch" by the sculptor Henry Moore. This building can be said to be the "beginning" of the recognized Modern Movement in Architecture in Columbus, and perhaps the starting point of the move to make Columbus a living museum of Modern Architectural history.

Detail view of top of tower.
Concrete detail set into brickwork at front of church.

Detail of brick and glazing detail of tower.
Front entrance steps. Work underway to repoint brick.

Front vestibule of church.
Side aisle of church. Nave to right of picture, access to school wing at end of this corridor.
Interior view of church from entrance.
View from altar of church out to congregation.
View from choir loft down onto congregation.
Detail of glazing.
View of the interior courtyard.
View from ground level into the interior courtyard.
Views of the courtyard/playground at the front edge of the church, servicing the school wing.
Looking up at the glass block skylight over the baptismal area at the very front of the altar area.
Glazed screen between front entry hall and church proper.
Interior view looking down from the choir loft.

The images on this site have been taken for use in my teaching. They may be copied for educational purposes. Please give credit. These images may not be reproduced commercially without written consent.

last updated March 8, 2008