What if I told you that this seemingly simple building is an architectural marvel? Welcome to Christ Church Lutheran. It stands as a testament to the power of honest design.
Christ Church Lutheran is more than just a church. It is a National Historic Landmark. The U.S. Department of the Interior gave it this honor in 2009.
The story of Christ Church Lutheran begins in 1911. The congregation formed then. They initially belonged to the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. A dispute in the 1970s led them to leave. They joined other churches to form the ELCA.
Look at the clean lines of Christ Church Lutheran. Eliel Saarinen designed this International Style masterpiece. He partnered with his son Eero Saarinen. This was Eliel’s last completed building. He passed away the following year.
Reverend William A. Buege contacted Eliel Saarinen in 1946. He convinced him to take on the commission. Saarinen had designed the First Christian Church in Columbus Indiana. He used it as a model for this project.
Notice anything unusual about the shape? At first glance Christ Church Lutheran seems like a simple box. But it is actually an irregular quadrilateral. The side walls are not parallel. Neither are the front and back walls.
Step inside Christ Church Lutheran. Conductor Osmo Vänskä praised its acoustics. He said it is a good place for music and listening. It is not just for the congregation. It is also a venue for concerts.
Take a walk to the education wing. Eero Saarinen designed it. Glen Paulsen oversaw its completion in 1962. This addition complements the worship building. It was also Eero’s last project. He died the year before it was finished.
Consider the recognition Christ Church Lutheran has received. In 1977 it won the American Institute of Architects Twenty-five Year Award. It was chosen over Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House. This shows its architectural importance.
See the bell tower. It underwent restoration in 2011. The courtyard was reconstructed in 2017. In 2018 a new pipe organ replaced the old one.
Eliel Saarinen once said if a building is honest the architecture is religious. Christ Church Lutheran embodies this philosophy. Its simple design creates a space of tranquility and spirituality. It invites all to experience its beauty.
Christ Church Lutheran offers free architecture tours. They occur at 11:00 a.m. on the second Sunday of every month. Trained docents lead the tours. They share the history and design of this landmark.
The people of Christ Church Lutheran welcome you. They invite you to enjoy this serene space. Attend a worship service or concert. You can also explore the architecture.