On September 25, 1955, forty-three persons banded together in Christian love to organize North Christian Church. Worship services were held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church from October 1955 until February 1956, when the Caldwell mansion on 25th Street was purchased and converted to a house of worship. In 1958, the church purchased land on Tipton Lane for the construction of a new building. In November, 1958, an Architectural Committee was formed, and they selected Eero Saarinen as the architect in February, 1959.
On September 2, 1962 and the congregation held a groundbreaking ceremony. The first worship service in the new church took place on March 8, 1964. Six weeks later on April 19th, the new building was dedicated. The Holtkamp organ was dedicated the following Sunday.
On September 2, 1962 and the congregation held a groundbreaking ceremony. The first worship service in the new church took place on March 8, 1964. Six weeks later on April 19th, the new building was dedicated. The Holtkamp organ was dedicated the following Sunday.
The Architect
Eero Saarinen
1910-1961 |
Born to world famous parents, architect and Cranbrook Academy of Art director Eliel Saarinen and textile artist Loja Saarinen, Eero Saarinen was surrounded by design his whole life. It came as no surprise that Eero was helping his father design furniture and fixtures for the Cranbrook campus by the time he was in his teens. In 1929, Eero left for Paris where he studied sculpture before enrolling in the Yale architecture program the following year. In 1934, he returned to the State of Michigan to teach at Cranbrook, work on furniture designs, and practice architecture with his father.
After working with his father on many projects, Eero Saarinen had a chance to express his philosophy when he entered the 1947 architectural competition for Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. That was his first opportunity to establish himself as an independent architect, and he set out to design a monument not only to Thomas Jefferson and the nation but also to the modern age. For him, “The primary concern was to create a monument that would have lasting significance and would be a landmark of our time. Neither an obelisk nor a rectangular box nor a dome seemed right on this site or for this purpose. But here, at the edge of the Mississippi River, a great arch did seem right.” The Arch was Saarinen’s first great triumph, but there would be many more. Projects, such as the General Motors Technical Center near Detroit, the TWA Terminal in New York City, and the Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C. brought him acclaim. He became one of the most accomplished and creative architects of his time. In “Eero Saarinen on His Work” edited by Aline Saarinen, and published by the Yale University Press in 1962, Saarinen writes about designing North Christian Church. Read it here. |
The Holtcamp Organ
North Christian’s pipe organ is one of the very last instruments designed by Walter Holtkamp Sr. before his death. His son, Walter Jr., completed the project and installed the organ in 1964. During the design phase of NCC Saarinen himself suggested Holtkamp to build the organ:
“In the North Christian Church, my thinking has always been to make the organ pipes an important element in the sanctuary design. I think, therefore, we must have an organ builder who understands the visual potential of his instruments, and on this basis I would like to recommend Walter Holtkamp.” (Eero Saarinen, letter to J. Irwin Miller, March 22, 1961) |