“A fire probably caused by faulty wiring destroyed the church.” This dramatic event forever changed St. Andrew’s Episocopal Church. Today we stand before St. Andrew’s Episocopal Church a building rich in history and architectural significance.
St. Andrew’s parish began humbly. It started as a Sunday school in 1885. The first meeting was held in a cottage. By 1886 the parish had built a church. It was located at Fourth and Putnam. As the congregation grew they planned a new church.
The Boston firm of Cram Wentworth and Goodhue designed it. Ralph Adams Cram was the lead architect. He was influenced by English Gothic styles. Cram also designed St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Detroit. This was Cram’s first commission outside Massachusetts.
Construction faced funding delays. Ground was broken on St. Andrew’s Day in 1894. The church was dedicated in 1902. The chapel alter honored Bishop Harris. The alter cross memorialized children killed in a school fire. The stained glass windows were from Lamb Studios in New Jersey.
Tragedy struck in 1906. A fire damaged St. Andrew’s Episocopal Church. The tower and clerestory were removed. The church was rebuilt but retained its Gothic simplicity. Columns were removed to improve seating. The chancel windows were later replaced with stained glass.
After World War II the neighborhood changed. Wayne State University expanded. The Lodge freeway was built nearby. The church became a student parish. Wayne’s United Christian Fellowship met here.
In 1961 the diocese leased the building to Wayne State University for 99 years. The university used it as a chapel and concert hall. St. Andrew’s has a strong connection to music. Musical programs have been held here since the 1960s.
Several Detroiters supported St. Andrew’s financially. These included Frank C. Trowbridge Harvey Parke and Fred Wardell. Wardell provided free lodging for the rector.
St. Andrew’s displays Ralph Adams Cram’s architectural style. It has straight vertical and horizontal lines. The exterior is Bedford limestone. There are Berea sandstone trimmings. Massive columns grace the nave. An enormous window is behind the altar.
Unusual stained glass windows honor various figures. These include banker Joseph Dodge and WSU President Clarence Hilberry. A Jewish comic book publisher Harry Donenfeld is also honored.
The church’s final service was in November 1988. Wayne State purchased the building in 1989. The restoration cost $1.6 million. The rectory was torn down. The walls were cleaned. New shingles were added. A new maple floor was installed for the altar.
Today St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church stands at 918 Ludington Mall. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It serves as a concert hall for Wayne State University. As you pass by you might hear the faint chords of music. They echo the church’s vibrant past. St. Andrew’s Episocopal Church has survived changing times. It continues to be a place of beauty. It is a place of music. It is a place of history.