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Preserving a Modern Masterpiece Unlike many preservation projects for sacred places, Christ Church Lutheran remains in remarkably good condition and is unaltered from its original design. Our goal is to prevent this architectural treasure from falling into a state of disrepair and to make it more accessible to all. The congregation has been a conscientious steward of this important building for the past 50 years. Now, we ask you to help us preserve this significant architectural treasure. You Can Help Please share your appreciation of Christ Church Lutheran with others by donating generously to our building preservation fund. Donate to: Christ Church Building Preservation Fund |
CHRIST CHURCH LUTHERAN: A Saarinen Masterpiece in Minneapolis Christ Church Lutheran is a work of architectural genius, a place of peace and quiet exhilaration. Through a sublime use of materials and light, Finnish-American architect Eliel Saarinen created a masterpiece in 1949, an "honest" church that he claimed sprang "from the physical and spiritual characteristics of the people." His son, Eero Saarinen, designed the 1962 education wing to harmonize with his father's triumph. We invite you to learn more about Christ Church Lutheran and absorb the serenity of its buildings. A Congregation Grows and Builds Christ Church Lutheran has been a fixture in the Longfellow neighborhood of Minneapolis since 1911. As the congregation grew, it built a wood-frame sanctuary in the Carpenter-Gothic style in 1914. Approaching mid-century, the flourishing congregation hired an architect to design a larger sanctuary in the Gothic Revival style. But World War II intervened, and construction was postponed as the nation devoted resources to the war effort. After the war, escalating construction costs made the earlier building design prohibitive. Pastor William A. Buege contacted Eliel Saarinen to see if he would design a church in the Modernist style, hoping such a structure could cost less to build. Saarinen accepted, perhaps as the son of a Lutheran pastor, out of a sense of kinship. "I asked him if it were possible in a materialistic age like ours to do something truly spiritual," Pastor Buege later recalled. "He soon showed me." Architectural Accolades Completed in 1949, this sanctuary was an exquisite adaptation of Modernist design principles to the functional and spiritual requirements of a building for worship. Through his use of materials, proportion, scale and light, Eliel Saarinen created a building with great dramatic effect and architectural impact; yet one that retains a very human scale and possesses a feeling of serenity and repose. Instantly acclaimed and broadly influential, this building is an enduring testament to Saarinen's unique style of Modernism. Architects and architectural students from around the country and abroad visit Christ Church Lutheran to observe its elegant restraint and admire the diffuse wash of natural light that spills along the curved surface of the back wall and splashes onto the upper part of the nave, filling the sanctuary with a tranquil glow. What's more, the congregation takes great pride in and stewards well this landmark building for worship. About Saarinen Born in Finland in 1873, Eliel Saarinen was at the forefront of Finnish architects developing a new romantic-nationalist style of architecture as an alternative to the classical eclecticism of the nineteenth century. In 1922, his design of a new skyscraper for the Chicago Tribune took second place in an international competition. Although the Tribune Co.built the first-place design, Saarinen's concepts proved influential. After moving his family to the U.S. in 1923, Saarinen designed buildings for the Cranbrook Academy outside Detroit, and his first U.S. church: the Tabernacle Church of Christ (now First Christian Church) in Columbus, Indiana. In his design for Christ Church Lutheran, he achieved such sublimity that architects, critics and religious organizations immediately recognized its significance. Saarinen died shortly after construction was completed. It was his last building. A Son's Expansion Soon after moving into its new sanctuary, the congregation sought to expand its facilities with an attached education building. It retained Eero Saarinen, Eliel's son, to design the new wing in 1956. By that time, Eero's fame was beginning to eclipse his father's, having designed the TWA Terminal at Idlewild Airport (now JFK) in New York, Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C., and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. The younger Saarinen's design for the education wing, however, is subdued. A beautiful building in its own right, the 1962 education wing nevertheless acknowledges the masterpiece to which it is appended, rather than making a bold, singular architectural statement. 'A Living Symbol of Architectural Integrity' In 2001 Christ Church Lutheran was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 1977, the American Institute of Architects granted Christ Church Lutheran the Twenty-Five Year Award, crediting the influence of the building on church design in the second half of the twentieth century. As the award noted: "Art, science, and faith achieve a serene harmony in this church whose spirit and simplicity of form recall the early Christian era. A living symbol of architectural integrity, it has provided inspiration and guidance to countless architects." Christ Church Lutheran is one of only 31 buildings in the country to have received the award, and it is the only parish church on the list. 'Acoustically Perfect' Saarinen designed Christ Church Lutheran to meet the congregation's needs for a solemn place to worship and to sing God's praise. At the time of its construction, the building was said to be "acoustically perfect," among the finest of any religious building in the United States. Noteworthy acoustic engineering elements:
Today's Challenge: Preserving Our Modern Masterpiece Christ Church Lutheran remains a remarkable tribute to Eliel and Eero Saarinen. More than 50 years after its construction, the building continues to serve its congregation and remains admired for its unique Modernist features. The congregation is eager to maintain the grace of its building, not only to preserve this architectural landmark but also to sustain and enhance the social fabric of the Longfellow neighborhood. Part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, we are a welcoming and vibrant congregation that worships with creative care for the liturgy. We tend to our neighbors and those in our community through outreach programs that include a thriving preschool, a gymnasium used by neighborhood youth basketball teams, and a Finnish language school. Because we recognize that the buildings are treasures for the broader public, we have established a preservation fund dedicated to the thoughtful preservation of this masterpiece. Contributions to the Christ Church Building Preservation Fund are tax deductible. Blogs about Christ Church Lutheran: http://buildingminnesota.blogspot.com/2007/06/christ-church-lutheran-slideshow.html http://buildingminnesota.blogspot.com/2007/06/christ-church-lutheran-saarinen-gem.html
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SPECIFICATIONS Church Building Architect: Eliel Saarinen and Associates Local Supervision: Hills Gilbertson & Hayes General Contractor: Kraus-Anderson Co. Dedicated: December 4, 1949 Cost: $336,212 Furnishings: $70,000 Materials Exterior: Wyandotte common brick, Mankato stone Interior: Chicago common brick Floors: Winona Travertine Woodwork: White pine Furnishings: White oak Windows: Aluminum with textured glass Baptismal font: 30" silver bowl on 8 ebony legs Sculptural panels Sculptor: William M. McVey, Cranbrook Art Academy Theme: Church's work in the community Top to bottom: Faith, Hope, Love, Education Education Building Architect: Eero Saarinen and Glen Paulson and Associates General Contractor: Kraus-Anderson Co. Dedicated: June 17, 1962 Cost: $685,376 Furnishings: $48,700 Mural Artist: William Wolfgram Title: "Let the Earth Rejoice!" Year: 1968 Courtyard Fountain Designer: Robert Rickels |
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