Christ Church Detroit is an Episcopal church located at 960 East Jefferson Avenue in

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...

Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...

. It is also known as Old Christ Church, Detroit. It is the oldest Protestant church in Michigan still located on its original site.Eric J. Hill, John Gallagher, American Institute of Architects Detroit Chapter
''AIA Detroit,'' Wayne State University Press, 2002, , p. 230 It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1970 and listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1971.

History

Brothers Robert (Jr.) and William Stead ran a wholesale grocery business at the present site of Christ Church until the year 1844.Paul Leake
''History of Detroit,'' The Lewis Publishing Company, 1912, p. 1198 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.Christ Church Detroit
history page The founders built a small wooden church, designed by Lieutenant

Montgomery C. Meigs Montgomery Cunningham Meigs (; May 3, 1816 – January 2, 1892) was a career United States Army officer and civil engineer, who served as Quartermaster General of the U.S. Army during and after the American Civil War. Meigs strongly opposed sece ...

, as its first place of worship. Fifteen years later, plans were laid for a new building on the same site.Nola Huse Tutag and Lucy Hamilton
''Discovering Stained Glass in Detroit,'' Wayne State University Press, 1988, , p. 49 In 1861, a chapel was constructed near the original structure for use while a larger church was constructed. The present church, designed by

Gordon W. Lloyd Gordon W. Lloyd was an architect of England, English origin, whose work was primarily in the United States, American Midwestern United States, Midwest. After being taught by his uncle, Ewan Christian, at the Royal Academy, Lloyd moved to Detroi ...

, was completed in 1864.

Construction

The church is built in an

American Gothic ''American Gothic'' is a 1930 painting by Grant Wood in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Wood was inspired to paint what is now known as the ''American Gothic'' House in Eldon, Iowa, along with "the kind of people efancied shoul ...

style, using limestone and sandstone; a massive belfry with a squared-off Germanic roof dominates the front facade. The interior boasts transepts 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 Franz may refer to: People * Franz (given name) * Franz (surname) Places * Franz (crater), a lunar crater * Franz, Ontario, a railway junction and unorganized town in Canada * Franz Lake, in the state of Washington, United States – see Fran ...

and J. Wippell and Co.

Current use

The Christ Church building has been continuously by an Episcopalian congregation since its construction. The current Rector is the Rev. Emily Williams Guffey. 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.

Gallery

Christ Church Detroit 1899.jpg, Christ Church in 1899 Christ Church Detroit 1934.jpg, Christ Church in 1934

References

External links

Christ Church Detroit website
{{Religious landmarks in metropolitan Detroit Churches in Detroit Episcopal church buildings in Michigan Churches completed in 1863 19th-century Episcopal church buildings Michigan State Historic Sites in Wayne County, Michigan Churches on the National Register of Historic Places in Michigan National Register of Historic Places in Detroit Gothic Revival church buildings in Michigan