A grand Romanesque church once stood here. That’s the story of the Church of Our Father. It was one of Detroit’s finest churches. Architect Charles H Marsh designed this magnificent building in the late 19th century. He also designed the Grand Rapids City Hall. The Church of Our Father was situated near Grand Circus Park. Back then the park was far from the city center. The area became increasingly bustling.
The Tuller Hotel became a thriving business next door. It wanted to expand. In 1913 hotelier Lew Tuller bought the Church of Our Father. He wanted to demolish it. He planned to build a hotel annex. People protested. Deed restrictions stated the land could only be used for a church. Tuller ignored these objections. He built a 14-story annex with 350 rooms. The Church of Our Father was no more.
The congregation wasn’t defeated. They merged with the First Unitarian Church. This formed the First Unitarian-Universalistic Church. It still exists at 4605 Cass Avenue in Midtown Detroit. The Tuller Hotel wasn’t so fortunate. It was demolished in 1991. The site remains an empty lot. The Church of Our Father’s legacy however lives on in the lives it touched and the community it served. The story of the Church of Our Father is a poignant reminder of Detroit’s ever-changing landscape. It highlights the resilience of faith. It shows how progress sometimes necessitates sacrifice. It speaks to the endurance of community spirit.