Detroit R L Polk City Directory 1856 - JewishGen KehilaLinks

AND A'DVERTTSTNG !L ETTEER. 39
CHURCHES OF DETROIT.
It has been said with tr~itl~, tl~at where ~ O L L fir~cl fine Churches, there you
find a thriving city. This is particularly true with regird to Detroit. No city in
America can boast of cl~uwlies which can surpass our ow11 ill the beauty of their architecture,
style and esecution. They are the ndiuir:ttion of :dl who behold them ; and
the stranger who visits us for the first time is irnplhessed wit11 the belief that the procperity
of Detroit is as infillli ble as are the solid foundations el' its beautiful churches.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, situated on the corner of Congress and She1 by streets,
was finished in Dec. 1852. It is a, fine specimen of Early English Gothic Architeemre,
built of stone, imving Tower and Spire on the S. W. angle, extending to the
height of 17.5 feet. The Mariner's Chtlrch, also Episa,nalian, sltuated on the corner
of Woodward ave. and Woodbritlge stre(il, is of atone also, aotl built in the castellilted
Gothic style.
Tlie Fort street. Presby 1 elaine Cl~urc:ll, si t,u;itctl or1 tilo coloiler of Fort and Third
streets, is also of stone, built in the enily drcornte(1 style of Gothic Architecture-having
Tower and Spire in the N. W. corner, rising t,,) tlle height of 225 feet : Lantern
Tower 011 the N. E. corner, 95 feet hiylr, and n square tower over tile front gable.
The Pinnacles, Tracery and detail throughout am all of stono; ant1 the building itself
is a complete triumpli of the art of Architecture. It, is built from tho design of A. H.
JORDAN, Esq,, of Detroit, and was completed in 1855.
The Jefferson Ave. I'rcsbyterinu Ch~~rcl:, is of brick, arid ~vi 11 be finished with mastic,
in il~litatioll of Iiee stone; is built in the perpendicula~ style of Gothic Architecture
The interi~w of this Chorcl~ has been greatly ntlnlirati by all who have seen it.
The ceiling is groi1lcc1 ; the Arches of Aisles anil Naves syringing fitom clustered columns
have ylntec! c,zl)ittlls. Tlie ceilings ;we interlnc>ed with rich tracery, having heavily
foliated bosses on the intersections of the rnouldil~p. Tlre walls of nave are pierced
with triplet nrindows, lighted from s1r)lights in the roof ,P n~dneing a rich and pleasing
effect. Tlle exterio~ when completed, will correspoltd with tlla interior. This buildincr
was erected in 1855, and is also fivnl tlrr {lesigns of A. H. JORDAIV, Esq.
he Presbyterian Cburch, situated on the coiner of State ;md Fnrlnei st~~eets, is 'in
the Roman stjle of A~schitecture : it has a !l'owe~* and Spire rising to the height of 235
feet on the S. W. z~rfier, and a smallel. tower 011 t.h~ S. 3:. corner. The windows are
circular thrc,ugl,out; the roof finished with a heavy pleojr:cting cornice ; the walls divided
by piltlsters into panels. Tlre interior is vtAry rich ilr clesiga and finish. The
arrangement of the Pulpit, aid finish of tllc~ 0,bnxrl front, arc: tiuite novel and pleasing.
This building is fils0 from the design of 9. H. Joxtona, Esfl., nncl was eomp]et,ed
in 1855.
The Cong~-egation:d Chll~ll on Fort street, is also Huina~l, and is :r fine specimen of
that style Gf Architecture. It is entirely finished ir, imitation of brown free stone.
The Tower and Spire are 210 feet high. The intcrior finishing is very elaborate. The
ceiling is deeply pannelled and heavily enriched. The coloring is soft, ,pleasing and
very harmonious. It was dedicated in 1854, and Fluilt from the des~gn of A. H.
JORDAN, Esq.
Tlle Unitarian Church on Lafi~yette street, ercctotl in 1863 from the design of
Messrs. Lum & Ford, is a very hea~~tiful specimeri of Grecian Architecture. The wlumns
of the poletico are fl~lted and have Ionic capitals. The interior is well arranged,
and the finish in exceeding qood taste.
The Metllodist Churches bn Woodward Ave. and olr Randolph street, and the Bsptiat
Church on Fort street, are also fine and handsome structures. The Catholic Csthe- *
dral on Jefferson Ave., is a large structure in the Roman style, et present unfinished.
St. Ann's Church, (Catholic,) in Lamed street is t1k :)ldi+i. honse of worship in Detroit.
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