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First Presbyterian Church Of Ypsilanti

First Presbyterian Church Of Ypsilanti image
Parent Issue
Day
25
Month
August
Year
1899
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

                   In Many Respects the Most Imposing and
                       Complete Edifice in the County.

                            ______________________

            IT IS OF THE DORIC GRECIAN STYLE MODIFIED

                            ______________________

                Improvements on the Building Have Already Cost
                 the Society Over $32,000. It Makes a Beautiful
                    Building of which the City Should be Proud

                            ______________________

What is known as the First Presbyterian church of Ypsilanti, whose history dates back over a period of 70 years, will soon occupy its fine new edifice, the third place of worship which the society has erected during the years of its existence. The development of the church from its small beginnings to its present position of wide influence and constantly increasing demands properly falls into three periods, each of which is very fittingly portrayed by the building erected by the society for its place of worship in each of the periods, The cut which illustrates this article shows the final structure which is soon to be dedicated. It is not entirely new, it being the second church remodeled and enlarged. It is entirely safe to say however, that is in many respects the most imposing and complete church edifice in the county.

The building is a wide departure from the usual church architecture. It is in the main what is known as Grecian Doric style modified or renaissance. As has been truly said.
"A main element of Grecian character was moderation, and at the same time a bold love of freedom in conjunction with an instinctive dread of everything impure and unholy, and a childlike reverence for the Godlike the holy and the lawful. "
The human race has probably never approached nearer to perfection in architecture as to proportion, beauty and harmony than did the ancient Greek, None have known better the ends of architecture as an art than they. Their imagination was able to picture the most beautiful and finished conceptions as is shown by their mythology.
This same element enabled them to so arrange all those elements which go to make up the completed edifice as to give to it beauty, symmetry power. The new Presbyterian church has these factors in large degree.

The front elevation in general effect is quite like the west front elevation of St. PauI's on a small scale. The effect of a tower at either corner, in stead of the sterotyped tower at one corner is pleasing. The entrance is most happily planned.
There are four columns of polished granite supporting the stone work above. The wainscoating of the porch is of polished Tennessee marble and the floors of the porch and vestibule are mosaic. Above the entrance is a beautiful stone rose window and all the window casings are of cut stone. The best material is used in all the work. All windows are memorial windows bearing the names of many who have been prominent workers in the church. They are of the best stained glass made by the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Co. , of New York.
The organ was built by Geo. Jardine & Sons, of New York, and cost $3,500. The organ is in the east end of the auditorium and is elevated somewhat as is the choir gallery. The pulpit platform is immediately in front of the choir gallery and much lower. There is a gallery in the west end over the vestibule. The finishings are in quarter sawed red oak and the floors which are tilted from the entrance to the pulpit platform are of the same material highly polished.
There are to be no carpets except in the aisles. The decorating was done by James Roach, of Detroit, and is handsome in design and in colors which are soothing to the eyes.
The building will be lighted with gas and electricity. The fixtures were bought of Moreau, of Cleveland. The church will be heated with a furnace and ventilated by the fan system.

On the lower part of the beautiful stained glass Windows appear the following memorials: Deacon Jacob Bacon and his wife Betsey Kellogg Bacon ; John Boyce and Prescilla Vinning Boyce, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us;" Isaac Newton Conklin, Harriet Green Conklin ; Hattie Atwood Pattison; Frank Allen Stewart; Sarah Maria Pardee ; Ario Pardee, Eliza Platt Pardee; Charles Williamson Glover, Mary Ann Glover; Charles Thompson, a ruling elder from 1858 to 1889, and Sarah A. Thompson, Dr. Henry Van Tuyl; Ira Mason Weed, first pastor, 1830-47, Caroline Dutton Weed ; Prancis Karthalo Rexford, Harriet Newell Rexford.
These are the names on the memorial windows extending from the farther end of the auditorium on the north side, across the west end and the length of the south side to the back end of the auditorium. The wing at the far end of the church constitutes the chapel which is used for prayer meetings and Sunday school assembly room.
On the east and north sides of the chapel are six rooms for Sunday school classes. All of these rooms can be thrown into the chapel when occasion demands. The Sunday school primary class rooms are up stairs.
There are double parlors with a grate in the rear addition also. In the basement of this addition are the kitchen and dining room with their respective complete equipments.
The church is complete in all its appointments and the society has came to be proud of their place of worship. The improvements which have been made have already cost the society $32,000.